Nahida fifer sets up five-wicket win for Bangladesh

Bangladesh left-arm spinner Nahida Akter picked up her maiden T20I five-wicket haul to help set up a five -wicket win for her side against Pakistan in the first of the three-match series at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Wednesday. 

Nahida's five wickets for eight runs helped Bangladesh bundle out Pakistan for 82 after which skipper Nigar Sultana Joty's watchful 28-ball 26 guided her side to victory with three balls to spare. 

Joty came to bat in the 10th over after the dismissal of top-order batter Sobhana Mostary. She managed to put away three boundaries and kept the score ticking while battling cramps in the latter stage to ensure Bangladesh go past the finish line in a match that almost went down to the wire. 

Earlier, Bangladesh imposed a trial by spin on the visitors after sending them to bat first as Joty had five spinners bowl through the innings following a couple of overs from seamer Marufa Akter. Apart from Nahida's fifer, Sultana Khatun, Rabeya Khan, and Shorna Akter picked up one wicket each. 

Pakistan's Bismah Maroof top-scored with a 29-ball 20. 

The second T20I will he held at the same venue on Friday.