Late onslaught from Shadab, Nawaz down Bangladesh
Brilliant batting under pressure from Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz steered Pakistan to a four-wicket victory in the first T20I of a three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
Pakistan reached their target of 128 with four balls to spare as Shadab Khan finished off in style for the visitors with a maximum off the leg-spinner Aminul Islam, who had bowled for the first time during the match in the final over of the innings.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. However, the game was done and dusted by the time the last over began as both Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam gave away 15 runs apiece at the 18th and 19th over, respectively. Pakistan needed just two off the final over when Aminul, a specialist bowler, was finally given the ball to apparently complete the formality.
Shadab played aggressively for his 10-ball 21 while Nawaz played eight-ball 18. Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah were the joint-highest scorers for Pakistan with 34 runs.
Earlier, Bangladesh reached their total of 127 by riding on quick-fire 25+ run knocks from Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan and Mahedy Hasan. Hasan Ali scalped three wickets for the visitors.
The second T20I match of the series starts tomorrow at the same venue from 2 pm.
Game nicely poised as visitors shaken
Pakistan found themselves at 40 for four after 10 overs, in the exact precarious situation as Bangladesh did after the end of 10 overs.
Following the dismissals of the in-form Pakistan openers, Bangladesh bowlers managed to tighten the screws on the visitors and have managed to place the odds in their favour at the start of the last quarter of the match.
Mustafiz has bowled exceptionally well in his first spell, conceding just three off two overs while Mahedi Hasan finished his spell of four overs with impressive figures of 17 for 1. Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad has chipped in with an economical over as well, conceding no more than 2 runs. However surprisingly, leg-spinner Aminul Islam is yet to be given the ball.
Fakhar Zaman has played an uncharacteristic 28-ball 19 so far as Pakistan find themselves at 55 for four after 12 overs, needing 73 off 48 remaining deliveries.
Pakistan four down in Powerplay
Bangladesh have replied strongly as the Tigers' pacers dismissed Pakistan's in-form openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan by the end of the fourth over followed by Mahedi Hasan trapping Haider Ali in front of the stumps before wicket-keeper Nurul Hasan Sohan ran out Shoaib Malik with a brilliant piece of fielding at the last ball of the Powerplay.
Mustafizur Rahman bowled Rizwan (run-a-ball 11) with a beautiful delivery before Babar (8 off 10) dragged Taskin on to the stumps. Haider Ali came in at number four and went out for a duck, having missed the ball completely while trying to play across the line. Then came Shoaib Malik, who would be kicking himself for being caught off-guard in the event of his dismissal. Malik went out for naught as well.
Pakistan are chasing a target of 128 and are placed at 24 for four at the end of six overs. Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah are at the crease for the visitors.
Late flourish lifts Tigers to 127
Bangladesh did not allow Pakistan to miss their ace pacer Shaheen Afridi as the hosts could not present no more than a target of 128 in the T20I series opener at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
Pakistan continued their momentum from the T20 World Cup and restricted Bangladesh, a side that have been struggling with confidence, at 127 for 7 after 20 overs.
Bangladesh's typical top-order misery materialised again as they found themselves at 40 for four at the ninth over. However, three good knocks from the likes of Afif Hossain Dhrubo (36 off 34), Nurul Hasan Sohan (28 off 22) and Sheikh Mahedi Hasan (30 off 20) made sure that the Tigers reach somewhat of a fighting total on what looks like a good pitch to bat on. Afif, Sohan and Mahedi hit two sixes apiece while Taskin Ahmed hit one maximum at the last ball of the innings.
Hasan Ali was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan as he grabbed three wickets while Mohammad Wasim scalped two.
Afif, Sohan breathe life back into innings
Couple of back-to-back sixes by Afif Hossain off Mohammad Nawaz in the eleventh over did bring some life back into Bangladesh's innings, however, the left-hander was undone by the guile of Shadab Khan, who dismissed Afif on 36 off 34 deliveries.
As the hosts approach the death overs, proactive batting from Nurul Hasan Sohan and Sheikh Mahedi Hasan have given the Tigers some room for optimism with a 31-run partnership so far.
Bangladesh are at 92 for five after 16 overs of play. Sohan, on 24 off 17 deliveries and Mahedi, on a run-a-ball eight, are still at the crease.
Bangladesh wobbling at midway
Bangladesh are continuing their dismal batting performance from the T20 World Cup and are now looking to consolidate their innings to give something for their bowlers to defend in the T20I series opener at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
After both the openers got out cheaply, Mahmudullah Riyad was the latest batter to be dismissed, as the skipper got beaten by the turn by Mohammad Nawaz and ended up getting bowled out, before Najmul Hossain Shanto departed at the fifth over after his mistimed cross-batted shot scooped the ball high, leading to a caught-and-bowled dismissal by Mohammad Wasim.
Riyad scored 11-ball 6 while Shanto scored 7 off 14 deliveries as Bangladesh are now precariously placed at 40 for four after 10 overs.
Tigers on backfoot as both openers depart early
Bangladesh lost opener Naim Sheikh in the second over and Saif Hassain in the fourth over of the innings against Pakistan in the first T20I of a three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
Naim, facing his third delivery, outside-edged to the wicketkeeper trying to slash at a wide delivery from Hasan Ali before debutant Saif Hassan nicked Mohammad Wasim's out-swinger at the first slip. Both openers dismissed after scoring one.
Najmul Hossain Shanto and Afif Hossain is at the crease as the Tigers are in a spot of bother at 12 for two after 4 overs.
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