Rizwan, bowlers power Pakistan to seal win in Tri-series opener

CHRISTCHURCH: Mohammad Rizwan starred with an unbeaten knock of 78 off 50 before bowlers restricted Bangladesh to 146/8 in the allotted 20 overs to help Pakistan secure their first win in Tri-series on Friday.

Set to chase a respectable target of 168, Bangladesh put up a dismal show with the bat as Pakistan bowlers stormed through the batting line and beat the opponent by 21 runs.

Mohammad Wasim Jr remained phenomenal with the ball as he picked three wickets for 24 runs while Nawaz returned the figures of 2/25 in his four overs quota.

Bangladesh batter Yasir Ali resisted lately with a valiant knock of unbeaten 42 off 21 but in vain since Pakistan had already ascended to a comfortable position in the game by then.

Openers Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Sabbir Rahman failed to provide a solid foundation to Bangladesh’s chase as they were dismissed inside the powerplay for 10 and 14, respectively.

Litton Das then combined excellently with Afif Hasnain for a decent 50-run partnership for the fourth wicket before the former was removed by Nawaz in the 13th over after scoring 35 off 26.

Following the dismissal, Bangladesh lost the track of their chase and started to lose wickets in quick successions as Mosaddek Hussain (0), Nurul Hasan (8), Taskin Ahmed (2) and Nasum Ahmed (0) fell cheaply while attempting big hits.

For Pakistan, apart from Nawaz and Wasim, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf also took a scalp each.

Earlier in the first innings, the wicket-keeper batter Rizwan top-scored for Pakistan as he smashed nine boundaries including seven fours and two sixes while Shan Masood and skipper Babar Azam also contributed with 31 off 22 and 22 off 25, respectively.

The middle order, however, continued their dismal form as Haider Ali (6), Iftikhar Ahmed (13) and Asif Ali (4) failed to accelerate the scoreboard and offered their wickets in quick succession.

The reliable duo, Babar and Rizwan, provided a solid start to Pakistan after they were put to bat by Bangladesh. The pair built an opening partnership of 52 runs before the skipper fell prey to Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the 8th over.

Shan then joined Rizwan on the crease and moved the scoreboard to 94 runs before the left-hander tossed up the ball in the 13th over and offered his wicket to Nasum Ahmed.

For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed pocketed two wickets while Hasan Mahmud, Nasum Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan Miraz took a scalp each.