PAK VS BAN - 6th Match, New Zealand T20I Tri-Series 2022

Bangladesh fought hard, but they've ended the tournament with 0 wins and 4 losses. They'll hope to do much better in the World Cup in Australia. Pakistan will face New Zealand in tomorrow's final, while a win doesn't matter a lot, it's always important to carry confidence and momentum into a big tournament. Hagley Oval is all set for the finale of what has been a superb tournament so far. Do join us for all the action. For now, cheers and bye..

Babar Azam | Winning captain - Definitely happy, the team is playing very well, winning is always good. We didn't bowl well, made some basic mistakes, myself and Rizwan started well with Nawaz finishing it off. We will learn from this and think the middle-order stepping up is good for the team. We will have to field better though, that's one area where improvement is needed, we'll try to give our 100% in tomorrow's final.

Shakib Al Hasan | Losing captain - It's been difficult, but I thought we played our best cricket today. Could have scored a few more runs in the end, but such things do happen. We played well in the middle overs which we were lacking, it's up to us to perform well in the upcoming World Cup. If we had been told we would get 173 at the start of the innings, I would have taken it gladly. We are very clear on the team we'll play in the World Cup, so that's good. My job is to score runs for the team, the bowling is not up to the mark though, that's one area I would like to improve. We have improved a lot through the tournament and that's something positive for us.

Mohammad Rizwan | Player of the Match - Credit to the Bangladeshi bowlers, they bowled really well. Starts are important in chases, so we wanted to keep wickets for the last 10 overs. Credit to Nawaz for his innings on this slightly sticky pitch. Some of our batters went deep, some went from the first ball, Nawaz's innings was outstanding. It was a difficult chase, it's a team game, we tend to keep wickets in hand with power-hitters down the order. Myself and Babar always keep in mind the conditions as we go out to play. We will work hard and hopefully the results will come.

18:32 Local Time, 05:32 GMT, 11:02 IST: A tight chase, But Pakistan have emerged victors. Bangladesh will look back at a few pivotal moments where they didn't cash in, particularly the 20th over of the batting effort, the missed chance off Rizwan and Saifuddin's profligacy. But they will also take some positives as they go into the World Cup, across the Tasman sea in Australia. On the other hand, Pakistan needed a breezy cameo and it came off Nawaz's bat, after the openers had added 101 for the first wicket. Is this the way to go? Can they take this method of play against tougher oppositions? At the moment though, they're reaping the benefits of conservative opening from two rock-steady openers. Not too much time to ponder over, they'll be back tommorrow for the final against New Zealand.

Saifuddin to Mohammad Nawaz, FOUR, Nawaz has pulled off the win here, Pakistan win by 7 wickets - Saifuddin went full and wide of off, Nawaz backed away, threw his bat out and squeezed it backward of square on the off-side for a boundary

The fielders have been asked to come into the ring

Saifuddin to Mohammad Nawaz, 2 runs, scores are level now, banged on short and into the pitch, pulled away past square leg and they're back for the second run once again

3 needed from 3 balls

Saifuddin to Mohammad Nawaz, 2 runs, full-toss from Saifuddin, Nawaz backed away on the lofted drive, doesn't get hold of the shot, but managed to clear extra-cover, comes back for the second

5 needed off 4 balls

Saifuddin to Mohammad Nawaz, 2 runs, slower short ball outside off - Mohammad Nawaz was looking to pull and popped a flat-batted swat towards mid-wicket, right in the gap and they're back for the second

Saifuddin to Asif Ali, 1 run, slower short ball at the right-hander, Asif is way too early into the pull and the ball dropped down off his shoulder, they senak in a run with Saifuddin deciding against the throw

Mohammad Saifuddin [3.0-0-42-0] is back into the attack

8 needed off the last over. It can only be Saifuddin or Shakib, both haven't had a great day with the ball so far. It's the former who is handed the ball

Soumya Sarkar to Asif Ali, 1 run, slower short ball outside off, cut away square on the off-side for a single

Asif Ali, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Soumya Sarkar to Rizwan, out Caught by Najmul Hossain Shanto!! Game on? Rizwan has thrown his wicket away - was once again undone by the lack of pace, had to reach out on the drive, lost his poise and ended up clattering it straight down the throat of deep cover. Rizwan c Najmul Hossain Shanto b Soumya Sarkar 69(56) [4s-4]

Soumya Sarkar to Rizwan, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Soumya Sarkar to Rizwan, wide, Sarkar loses his line, the idea was to bowl the wide yorker, but he spilled it well outside off, called as a wide