Mirpur: Bangladesh beat Pakistan by eight wickets in a low-scoring first ODI of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
The hosts comfortably chased down Pakistan’s target of 115 runs for the loss of just 2 wickets in 15.1 overs thanks to a brilliant display from the Tigers’ top order.
Bangladesh got off to a solid start as openers Saif Hasan and Tanzid Hasan set the tone as Tanzid led the way as he targeted Shaheen Afridi and Faheem Ashraf in the opening overs.
The 27-run partnership was broken when captain Shaheen Afridi dismissed Saib cheaply for 4 off 10 balls.
After the breakthrough, Danzid and Najmul Hossain Shando put together a brilliant partnership, hitting fours to take the team past 50 in the seventh over.
The duo put on a combined fifty, dominating Pakistan’s bowling—with Abrar conceding consecutive sixes and Shaheen hitting several boundaries.
Danzith continued his batting prowess, scoring his fifth ODI half-century in fine form to restrict Bangladesh to 92-1 in 12 overs.
However, the 82-run partnership ended when Wasim Jr took the crucial wicket of Najmul Shando, who scored 27 runs off 33 balls with 5 boundaries.
Tansit Hasan led Bengal Tigers’ innings with an unbeaten 67 off 42 balls with 7 fours and 5 sixes, while Liton Das contributed 3 runs.
Batting first, Pakistan got off to a promising start with the new opening pair of Mas Sadaq and Sahibzada Farhan piling on the runs quickly to give the visitors a great start.
However, the 41-run stand was broken in the final over of the first powerplay when fast bowler Nahid Rana dismissed Farhan, who had scored 27 off 38 balls, including 4 fours.
Nahid struck again in the 12th over, dismissing debutant Shamil Hussain, who failed to contribute, for four runs off seven balls as the team were 47-2 in 11.3 overs.
After scoring 18 runs off 28 balls with 3 fours, Pakistan struggled to retain their wickets as they were sent back by opener Mas Rana, losing back-to-back wickets.
Mohammad Rizwan fell next, adding pressure on the Green Shirts, as Rana claimed another wicket; Rizwan scored 10 runs off 20 balls, including 2 fours, to take the team to 64-4 in 15.5 overs.
Rana picked up his fifth wicket, collapsing Pakistan’s batting line-up, with Salman Ali Agha falling cheaply for five off eight balls with a boundary to his name.
With the green shirts six down, Bangladesh grew in confidence as Mehdi Hasan ducked Miraz Abdul Samad for a six as Pakistan struggled to 70-6 in 19 overs.
Pakistan’s wickets continued to tumble as Mehdi Hasan picked up his second wicket, dismissing Hussain Talat for 4 off 13 balls.
In the same over, captain Shaheen Afridi came to the crease and hit a boundary in an attempt to ease the pressure, but he was short-lived as he was lbw to Mehdi Hasan for a boundary off one ball.
Taskin Ahmed joined the attack and took the first wicket of the game by ducking Wasim Jr. Faheem Ashraf stood firm as he crossed 100 runs in the 26th over and added important runs.
However, Mustafizur picked up the first wicket of the game to dismiss Rahman Faheem and finished the innings with 37 off 47 balls, including 6 fours and a six.
Nahid Rana tore through Pakistan’s batting line-up with a brilliant 5/24 in seven overs. Mehdi Hasan Miraz took 3 wickets and Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed took one wicket each.