Pakistan won the first match of the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh by four wickets on Friday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
In the see-saw match, Bangladesh showed some resistance at some points while defending a moderate total of 127 runs. But Pakistan batters were calm enough to seal the match. They destroyed Bangladesh’s hope to erase the World Cup agony.
Pakistan lost four wickets for 40 runs in 10 overs while chasing the target. They needed to score 88 in the last 10 overs to seal the match.
Bangladesh displayed some quality bowling in the powerplay when Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed and Mahedi Hasan scalped one wicket each including the wickets of Pakistan openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam.
In the fifth wicket stand, Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah added 56 runs off 50 balls that put Pakistan back on the driving seat. The stand was broken by Shoriful Islam. The left-arm pacer removed Khushdil for 34 off 35 balls.
In the last five overs, Pakistan needed 46 runs with five wickets in hand.
They completed the task riding on the 8-ball 18 by Mohammad Nawaz, and 10-ball 21 by Shadab Khan. Nawaz smashed 15 off 19th over bowled by Shoriful with a four off the last ball of 18th over bowled by Mustafizur.
In the last over, Pakistan needed only two runs.
Bangladesh captain gave the ball to Aminul Islam Biplob, only legspinner of Bangladesh squad, to bowl his first over. Shadab failed to take any run off the first ball, but he smashed the second ball to a six to seal the match with four wickets in hand and four balls to spare.
For Bangladesh, Taskin bagged two wickets conceding 31 runs while Mahedi, Mustafizur and Shoriful scalped one wicket each.
Earlier, Bangladesh posted a moderate total of 127 for seven 20 overs after winning the toss and opting to bat first.
Afif Hossain was the highest runs getter scoring 36, while Mahedi Hasan scored 30 and Nurul Hasan added 28.
Despite so manage changes to the playing XI, Bangladesh failed to register a solid start as they lost both the openers inside three overs.
Mohammad Naim, Bangladesh’s most successful T20 opener in recent time, was removed by Hassan Ali off the first ball of the second over of the innings. It was a delivery outside off stump, Naim went for a drive but without any foot movement. He only managed an edge to the wicketkeeper.
In the next over, Saif Hassan fell prey to Mohammad Washim after a horror debut of scoring one off eight balls. He also missed the foot movement while prodding the ball to Fakhar Zaman at the first slip.
Najmul Hossain Shanto came to bat at number three but failed once again. He scored only 7 off 14 balls. He was also haunted by Mohammad Wasim.
Bangladesh needed to play till 5.1 overs to get their first boundary— a four off Haris Rauf by the number five Afif.
Bangladesh amassed 25 runs for three wickets in the powerplay— another lean show by the Tigers in the first six overs in the T20Is.
Afif was the only batter to show some resistance against the quality bowling attack of Pakistan who overlooked Shaheen Afridi in this match. Afif fell as the fifth wicket scoring 36 off 34 with two fours and two sixes.
Before his dismissal, Bangladesh also lost the captain Mahmudullah Riyad for six off 11 balls.
In 15 overs, Bangladesh posted 80 for 5. In the last five over, Bangladesh added 47 runs losing two more wickets.
Mahedi and Nurul scored 30 and 28 respectively. These two batters also put up the biggest partnership of the innings— 35 off 24 balls.
Bangladesh eventually reached 127 for seven in 20 overs.
For Pakistan, Hasan Ali bagged three wickets conceding 24 runs. It was his first T20I after missing a match-deciding catch in the semifinal of the T20 World Cup against Australia. Mohammad Wasim scalped two wickets conceding 24 runs.
The second match of the series will take place on Saturday at the same venue at 2pm. The third and final of the series will be played on November 22 at the same venue and at the same time.
After the T20I series, both the teams will take on each other in a two-match Test series, with the first Test beginning on November 26 in Chattogram, and the second Test in Dhaka from December 4.
Source: United News of Bangladesh