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MIRPUR: Parvez Hossain Emon’s gutsy 56* and Taskin Ahmed’s three-wicket haul sealed a comprehensive seven-wicket win for Bangladesh over Pakistan in the opening T20I of the three-match series here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.
Chasing a meagre 111-run target, Bangladesh comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of just three wickets in only 15.3 overs.
In pursuit of the target, Bangladesh lost their opener Tanzid Hasan (1) and skipper Litton Das (1) in the first two overs. Debutant Salman Mirza made a perfect start to his international career after removing the two batters.
However, the 73-run partnership between Parvez Hossain Emon and Towhid Hridoy for the third wicket, marked by boundaries, propelled Bangladesh to 80-3 in just 12.3 overs.
In the 12th over, Abbas Afridi castled Hridoy, who had been dropped twice, scoring 36 off 37 balls with two sixes and two fours. With Bangladesh close to victory, it was only a matter of time.
During the middle overs, Bangladesh scored 74 runs, losing only one wicket, compared to Pakistan’s 62 runs for the loss of two wickets.
Parvez Hossain Emon remained unbeaten on 56* from 39 balls, peppered with five sixes and three fours, while Jaker Ali scored 15* off 10 deliveries to take their team home in a one-sided contest.
For Pakistan, Salman Mirza was the standout bowler, taking two for 23 in his 3.3 overs, while Abbas Afridi picked up one wicket.
Earlier, Bangladesh bowled out Pakistan for a meagre total in the opening T20I of the three-match series here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Sunday.
Put into bat first, Pakistan were bundled out for 110 runs in 19.3 overs as Bangladesh capitalized on the decision to bowl first.
The home side laid the first blow in the shape of Saim Ayub, who was caught after scoring just six off four balls. Fakhar Zaman, who was handed a reprieve early, played aggressively as Pakistan reached 32-1 in only 3 overs.
However, Mohammad Haris (4) threw his wicket away after being caught at midwicket, leaving Pakistan two down.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha came to the crease to steady the innings; however, his sluggish three runs off nine balls ended courtesy of Tanzim Hasan Shakib’s excellent bowling. Consequently, this wicket added to the visitors’ woes, reducing them to 40-3 in the first five overs.
Furthermore, the wickets continued to tumble in quick succession, as incoming batter Hasan Nawaz was removed for a golden duck, while Mohammad Nawaz managed to score only three runs before being run out.
With half of the side back in the pavilion at the score of 46 in only 7.4 overs, Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah forged a brief stand of 24 runs to give Pakistan some respite.
Despite this, Zaman, who was the top scorer, made 44 runs from 34 balls— hitting six fours and one six— was run out due to a misunderstanding with Khushdil, which left Pakistan 70-6.
Although Khushdil and Abbas Afridi managed to provide some late blitz in the final phase of the innings, it ultimately was not enough to take Pakistan to a formidable total against Bangladesh’s economical bowling.
Khushdil and Abbas decided to take on Bangladesh’s leg spinner Rishad Hossain in the 15th over. Both batters struck a six each, which accumulated 13 runs in the over. In the next over, Abbas Afridi struck back-to-back sixes in an over off Tanzim to lift Pakistan above 100 runs.
Nevertheless, Bangladesh’s bowlers conceded only eight runs in the next three overs and took the key wicket of Khushdil Shah (17 off 23 balls), who managed to strike two boundaries.
The 19th over bowled by Taskin Ahmed resulted in three wickets from the first three balls, enabling Bangladesh to bowl out Pakistan for the first time in T20I history.
For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed was the standout bowler, picking up three wickets for 22 runs in only 3.3 overs. Mustafizur Rahman was exceptionally good with his economical spell of 6 runs in four overs, along with two wickets.
