Pakistan down Bangladesh in T20I opener
Paksitan celebrate the wicket of Tanzid Hasan Tamim, PCB
Bangladesh fell short by 37 runs in the opening match of the three-match T20I series against Pakistan at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday. After electing to bowl first, the visitors allowed the hosts to post a daunting 201 for 7, and in reply, Bangladesh were bowled out for 164 in 19.2 overs.
The match began on a bright note for Bangladesh, with Mahedi Hasan removing opener Saim Ayub for a duck in the very first over. Shoriful Islam then struck in the second over to dismiss Fakhar Zaman.
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However, a 48-run stand between Mohammad Haris and captain Agha Salman steadied the innings. Haris made a brisk 31 off 18 balls with four boundaries and a six, while Salman led from the front with a well-composed 56 off 34, hitting eight fours and a six.
Player of the tournament in the recent PSL, Hasan Nawaz, played a powerful knock of 44 off just 22 balls, including four sixes and two fours. Shadab Khan then provided a late flourish, scoring 48 from 25 balls with five fours and two sixes.
Chasing 202, Bangladesh lost Parvez Hossain Emon early for just 4. His opening partner Tanzid Hasan showed promise with 31 off 17 balls, hitting three sixes and two fours, before falling.
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Captain Litton Das top-scored with 48 off 30 deliveries, striking three sixes and a four. He was dismissed on the final ball of the 12th over with Bangladesh at 100.
Despite being in contention at that stage, Bangladesh's innings quickly unraveled as wickets fell in regular intervals.
Towhid Hridoy (17 off 22), Shamim Hossain (4), and Rishad Hossain (4) failed to make meaningful contributions. Jaker Ali fought back with a late cameo of 36 off 21 balls, including three sixes and a four, but it wasn’t enough to avoid a heavy defeat.
Pakistan’s bowling was led by the returning pacer Hasan Ali, who delivered a match-winning performance with career-best figures of 5 for 30 in 3.2 overs. He dismissed both openers and also accounted for Jaker Ali. Shadab Khan supported well with 2 wickets for 26 runs in 4 overs.
For Bangladesh, Mahedi Hasan took 1 for 36 in 4 overs, Shoriful Islam claimed 2 for 32 in 3 overs, and Hasan Mahmud bagged 1 for 24 in his 3 overs. Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Shamim Patwary also chipped in with a wicket each, while Rishad Hossain was expensive, conceding 55 in his 4-over spell.
