Shadab Khan’s all-round heroics, a composed half-century from skipper Salman Ali Agha, and a fiery five-wicket haul by Hasan Ali propelled Pakistan to a emphatic 37-run win over Bangladesh in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Wednesday. With this win, the hosts take a 1-0 lead in the series.
After opting to bat first, Pakistan posted an imposing total of 201/7 in their 20 overs. However, their innings got off to a shaky start as both openers, Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman, departed early, dismissed by Mahedi Hasan and Shoriful Islam, respectively, leaving the team at a precarious position.
Captain Salman then partnered with wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris to rebuild the innings. The duo added 48 runs before explosive cameos from Hasan Nawaz and Shadab Khan turned the tide. Nawaz, batting at number 5 after opening in the previous series against New Zealand, smashed 44 off just 22 balls. Shadab, sent in ahead of Khushdil Shah, matched the tempo with a blistering 48 off 25 deliveries at a strike rate of 192.
Bangladesh deployed six different bowlers, all of whom managed to claim at least one wicket. Shoriful Islam was the most successful with two scalps, while Rishad Hossain endured a tough outing, conceding 55 runs in his four overs.
Hasan stun Bangladesh with a five-fer
Chasing 202, Bangladesh’s innings never gained momentum. They lost in-form opener Parvez Hossain Emon early, caught trying to clear midwicket. Tanzid Hasan looked promising but was bowled by a clever knuckleball from Hasan. Captain Litton Das struck the ball cleanly and top-scored with 48, but lacked support at the other end as Towhid Hridoy struggled for fluency.
Once Litton was dismissed, the innings quickly unraveled. Hridoy departed shortly after, and although Jaker Ali fought valiantly with a quickfire 36 off 20 balls, the rest of the batting line-up crumbled. Seven wickets fell for just 64 runs, with none of the remaining batters reaching double figures.
Hasan marked his return to the T20I squad with a stunning five-wicket haul. Spinners also played a vital role, with Shadab picking up two wickets, while Khushdil and Salman chipped in with one each.
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