MIRPUR - Maaz Sadaqat announced himself on the international stage with a devastating all-round display as Pakistan demolished Bangladesh by 128 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method in the second ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Thursday, leveling the three-match series at 1-1.

Just days after suffering a humiliating collapse in the first ODI, Pakistan produced a complete performance that was as emphatic as it was necessary. At the heart of it all stood Sadaqat, whose contribution with both bat and ball earned him a thoroughly deserved Player of the Match award and ensured the series would go the distance.

With the bat, Sadaqat played with a maturity and fluency that belied any pressure the occasion might have brought. His knock of 75 was the cornerstone of Pakistan's innings as they posted 274 all out, a total that looked imposing on a surface that had already shown its capacity to trouble batsmen earlier in the series. Sadaqat's innings combined intelligent shot selection with timely aggression, providing Pakistan with the platform they desperately needed after the first-match debacle.

Then, with ball in hand, Sadaqat turned destroyer. His figures of 3 wickets for just 23 runs tore through a Bangladesh batting lineup that never looked comfortable chasing a revised target in 32 overs after rain intervened. The hosts were bundled out for a paltry 114, their batsmen unable to cope with Pakistan's bowling attack that operated with renewed purpose and discipline.

The margin of victory, 128 runs under the DLS method, told the story of Pakistan's dominance on the day but also masked just how dramatically fortunes have swung in this series. In the first ODI, it was Bangladesh who held all the cards. Pakistan were skittled for just 114 in that match, with Nahid Rana delivering a sensational maiden five-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 5 for 24 in a performance that announced his own considerable talent. Bangladesh's bowlers had been relentless that day, leaving Pakistan's batting order in tatters.

The symmetry between the two matches is striking. Both featured a team being bowled out for 114. Both featured individual performances of the highest caliber. And both demonstrated the volatile, unpredictable nature of cricket in the subcontinent, where conditions, confidence, and momentum can shift in the space of a single session.

For Pakistan, the response in the second ODI was exactly what the coaching staff and fans would have demanded. After being embarrassed in the opener, questions had swirled about the team's ability to compete away from home under pressure. Sadaqat's performance provided the most emphatic of answers, and the collective bowling effort showed a side that had learned quickly from its mistakes.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly. Their batting frailties were exposed in the second ODI, and the confidence generated by that remarkable first-match victory evaporated under Pakistan's sustained assault. The hosts will take comfort from the fact that they have home advantage and a passionate crowd behind them, but they will need far more from their top order if they are to clinch the series.

All eyes now turn to March 15, when the two sides return to the same venue in Mirpur for the decider. With the series locked at 1-1 and both teams having experienced the extremes of triumph and collapse within the space of days, the third ODI promises to be a riveting contest. In a series defined by its swings and individual heroics, the stage is set for one more unforgettable chapter.