BAN vs PAK

11:10 PM local time (10:40 PM IST): So, it's 1-all in the 3-match ODI series after 2 games. It was the hosts who won the first match convincingly, and this time round, the visitors inflicted a heavy defeat on the home side. We now shift focus to the 3rd and final game of the series on Sunday. It will begin at 2:15 PM local time (1:45 PM IST) from the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. Who will win the series by winning that one? Will there be weather around for that game as well? We will find out, together. For now, this is the pair of Datrim and Bidipto taking your leave. Keep following Sportskeeda! 

Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan captain): "The last game didn't go our way, we didn't bat well. This time, we backed ourselves and played our game. This surface was better suited for the fast bowlers, so, we got 4 quicks in and it worked. We need to improve on our middle-order batting, we lost too many wickets today. We are in our preparation-mode for the World Cup. Happy for Maaz Sadaqat, he played well!" 

Maaz Sadaqat (Player of the Match): "In our meeting before the game, the plan was to back myself and play my natural game. There was some pressure in the last game, but today, I played the way I like. I am a batting all-rounder, but, for the last few months, I am working hard on my bowling to get better for the team." 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Bangladesh Captain): "I think we didn't take advantage of the first 10 overs. We didn't execute well in the first 10 overs and gave too many runs. Credit to Pakistan the way they performed (His thoughts on the wicket offering variable bounce) I think it's a very good wicket. We committed a few lapses with the bat. The top order didn't get enough runs. I think it's a problem, and we need to fix it. We have to improve our batting. I am pleased with the way we have bowled so far. We need to focus on our batting and take the responsibility to score big. (Run out with Agha) Yes, he was away from the wicket. I was only looking for the ball. Had I missed the run out then Agha would have surely gone for the run. The ball wouldn't have been dead then." 

10:54 PM local time (10:24 PM IST): Pakistan win by 128 runs (DLS method). 

Maaz Sadaqat - 75 (46) and 3/23 (5)
Litton Das 41 (33) | Rishad Hossain - 3/56 (9.3)

It wasn't the best difficult target to reach, but, losing 3 quick wickets up front, didn't help the hosts. Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Saif Hassan and Najmul Hossain Shanto, were not quite up to the mark against the new ball. 

Then came a rain delay after 6.3 overs. At that stage, the home team were under some pressure. When the match resumed, the target got revised to 243 in 32 overs. 

But Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy wanted to make a match out of it. They wanted to take it deep. They put together a 48-ball 58 for the 4th wicket, and looked to put the visitors in trouble. Litton played some nice shots, en route his 41.

But, a premeditated sweep shot changed the course of the innings, as Litton was adjudged leg before wicket. From there, it went downhill for the hosts. 

The asking rate kept climbing, and the wickets kept falling. Their last hope, Hridoy, was trapped in front of the stumps, before he could cut loose. 

It was just a moment's wait for the inevitable, and finally, with more than 8 overs left, the series got leveled with the final match coming up here in Dhaka, on Sunday. 

23.3 Haris Rauf to Taskin Ahmed, CAUGHT! ALL OVER FOR BANGLADESH! PAKISTAN SECURE A HUGE WIN IN MIRPUR TO LEVEL THE SERIES 1-1! That was a good length ball on the middle-stump line. Taskin attempts a risk hoick across the line but gets a top edge. The ball does not get the distance, and Shaheen makes no mistake in completing a regulation catch at mid on. Rauf closes it out clinically for Pakistan tonight!

23.2 Haris Rauf to Taskin Ahmed, fuller ball on middle. Taskin looks to go over the top, but he miscues his shot and the ball just lands short of mid on. 

Another over ticks by. Nothing that gets the fielding team frustrated as yet, but, the longer these two stay out, the longer will be the wait. 

22.6 Mohammad Wasim Jr to Taskin Ahmed, length ball outside off. Taskin opens the face of his bat and chips it on the bounce to Rauf at deep third. 

22.5 Mohammad Wasim Jr to Taskin Ahmed, slower ball around off. Rana goes for the big heave on the leg side but can only manage a frustrating inside edge. 

22.4 Mohammad Wasim Jr to Nahid Rana, low full toss at the stumps. Played straight back and the ball goes on to crash into the stumps at the bowler's end. 

22.2 Mohammad Wasim Jr to Taskin Ahmed, too short and too wide outside off. Rana throws his bat at it but does not get anywhere close to the line of the ball. 

22.1 Mohammad Wasim Jr to Taskin Ahmed, length ball on leg. Taskin looks to heave it away on the leg side but the ball brushes the inside edge of his bat and finds the fielder at fine leg. They take the single.

The batters are in the mood to throw their bats at everything, which is understandable. The question is, how long can they frustrate the opposition?