Mohammad Haris’ stunning maiden T20I century powered Pakistan to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in the third and final T20I at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, completing a clean 3-0 series sweep.
Chasing a challenging target of 197, Pakistan lost Sahibzada Farhan early for just 1 run in the opening over. Farhan had been the star of the previous game with a quickfire 74 off 41 balls.
Saim Ayub then partnered with Haris, and the duo added 92 runs to steady the innings, taking Pakistan to 100. Saim played a brisk knock of 45 off 29 balls, which included four sixes, before being dismissed by Hasan Mahmud with a well-disguised slower ball.
Haris, meanwhile, reached his half-century in just 25 deliveries and continued to lead the charge. Hasan Nawaz provided a rapid cameo of 26 off 13 balls, pushing the score to 137 before getting out.
With three wickets down, Haris switched gears and unleashed a flurry of boundaries, guiding Pakistan to victory with 16 balls to spare. He completed his century in 45 balls and ended unbeaten on 107* off 53, smashing eight boundaries and seven sixes.
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh, after being asked to bat first, posted 196/6 thanks to a solid start from openers Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain Emon. The pair raced to 110 in the first ten overs, with Parvez reaching his fifty in 27 balls. Parvez scored 66 off 34, laced with seven fours and four sixes, while Tanzid added 42 off 32.
However, both openers fell in quick succession, and though Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy built a 49-run partnership to lift the score to 162, Bangladesh couldn’t maintain the momentum. Litton fell for 22 and Towhid for 25, and Pakistan’s bowlers regained control, limiting the visitors to 196/6 in 20 overs.
Hasan Ali and Abbas Afridi claimed two wickets each, while Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf chipped in with one apiece.
Pakistan XI: Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed.
Bangladesh XI: Litton Das (Captain and wk), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Shamim Hossain Patwary, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed.
