Maaz Sadaqat 75 in Vain? Dramatic Pakistan Batting Collapse Hands Momentum to Bangladesh in Pak vs Ban 2nd ODI

A tale of two halves at the Shere Bangla National Stadium saw Pakistan’s early dominance evaporate into a familiar late-order scramble, as the visitors were bundled out for 274 in the Pak vs Ban 2nd ODI.

For the first 35 overs, it looked like Pakistan was finally ready to exorcise the ghosts of their crushing opening-game defeat. Instead, a dramatic Pakistan batting collapse, triggered by the spin twins Rishad Hossain and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, has left the series hanging by a thread.

The Sadaqat Storm

Electing to bowl first, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto likely expected early moisture to play a role. Instead, he met a whirlwind named Maaz Sadaqat. Sadaqat played with the kind of fearless freedom Pakistan has lacked lately, racing to a 31-ball half-century. 

Maaz Sadaqat 75 off 46 deliveries, was a clinic in modern power-hitting, laced with crisp drives and audacious pulls that forced Shanto into defensive ring-fields within the first ten overs.

Stability and the Middle-Order Grind

When Maaz got out, the baton was passed to Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan, who navigated the tricky post-powerplay phase with veteran composure. Agha, in particular, looked in sublime touch to reach 64.

Rizwan (44) played the perfect foil, and at 210/3 in the 36th over, a 320-plus total seemed a mere formality.  Then, the "Mirpur Pakistan Batting Collapse" struck.

The turning point came when Rizwan tried to hit off Mehidy Hasan Miraz. The wicket broke Pakistan's rhythm. Mehidy Hasan Miraz (2/34) suddenly found extra zip off the surface, while Rishad Hossain (3/56) tightened the noose from the other end.

The tail offered little resistance, failing to use the full 50-over quota and leaving 15 balls out on the park.

The Verdict

While 274 is a competitive score on a surface that traditionally slows down, the psychological momentum sits firmly in the Bangladesh dugout. The Tigers’ bowlers showed immense heart to pull the game back, leaving Pakistan’s bowlers with a massive task: defending a total that should have been 40 runs higher.

Pakistan has the runs to fight, but they’ve given Bangladesh a massive "in." All eyes now turn to Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf to see if they can repair the damage done by the Pakistan batting collapse.