Pakistan batsmen stepped up with a gusty batting display as they effectively chased down 174 against Bangladesh handing them a commanding seven-wicket defeat in the seventh game of the tri-nation series at Hagley Oval on Thursday.

Mohammad Rizwan made a 55-ball 69 while Babar Azam and Mohammad Nawaz struck a 55 off 40 and 45 off 20 balls, respectively, to pull the side to 177-3 with one ball to spare, pursuing a 173-6.

For Bangladesh, Liton Das and Shakib Al Hasan scored 69 off 42 and 68 off 42 balls, respectively.

Naseem Shah, Mohamaad Wasim claimed 2 each with Mohamammad Nawaz scalping one wicket.

For the Tigers, Hasan Mahmood claimed two wickets and Soumya took one.

To defend their total Bangladesh bowlers seemed economical from the very beginning of their innings, but as the time passed, they failed to endure the tempo that paved the way for the Pakistan opening pair Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to form a 101-run partnership before the former gave a catch to the stand-in fielder Mosaddek Hossain for 55 by the rookie paceman Hasan Mahmood in 12.3 overs.

Hasan also claimed Haider Ali for a duck in the same over.

However, a 64-run third-wicket stand between Rizwan and Nawaz knocked the Tigers out of the game before the former was dismissed by part-timer Soumya.

Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, Bangladesh slang 173 for six in the stipulated over, courtesy of a 55-ball 80-run partnership between Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das in the third-wicket stand, who went big guns to overcome the initial damages.

However, their opening stand remained unchanged, with dismissive intent that would surely be a matter of worry for the team management for next week’s ICC T20 World Cup in Australia.

Najmul Hossan Shanto, who has been opening since the second tie of the tri-series, got out for a sluggish 15-ball 12 while Soumya, who sent at 3 in the last game and was promoted to the opening slot, was removed for a run-a-ball 4.