Pakistan claimed a commanding 37-run victory over Bangladesh in the opening T20I at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Set a target of 202, Bangladesh faced early trouble when Hasan Ali dismissed Parvez Hossain Emon for just four runs. Tanzid Hasan and captain Litton Das then built a quick 37-run partnership to steady the innings. However, Hasan Ali struck again to remove Tanzid for a brisk 31 off 17 balls.
Das continued to anchor Bangladesh’s innings with a valuable 48-run knock, sharing a 63-run stand with Towhid Hridoy to take the score to 100 by the 12th over. Despite this promising phase, Pakistan’s spinners turned the game decisively.
Shadab Khan broke the partnership by removing Das, and dismissals by Khushdil Shah and skipper Salman Ali Agha soon followed, sending Hridoy and Shamim Hossain back to the pavilion and triggering a collapse.
Rishad Hossain and Jaker Ali added 24 runs before Shadab struck again, taking a return catch to dismiss Rishad. Jaker tried to revive the innings with a solid 36, but Hasan Ali’s return to the attack ended his resistance at 148.
Bangladesh’s tail failed to offer much resistance, and the team was bowled out for 164.
Hasan Ali was the standout performer for Pakistan with a five-wicket haul. Shadab Khan picked up two wickets, while Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, and Salman Ali Agha chipped in with one wicket each.
Earlier in the match, Pakistan posted a competitive total of 201-7 after being put in to bat. The home team, fielding a reworked lineup that included six changes from their previous T20I against New Zealand, faced early setbacks. Both openers, Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman, fell within the first two overs, leaving Pakistan at 5-2.
Captain Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Haris counterattacked to put together a brisk 48-run stand from just 31 deliveries. Haris fell for a quick 31 off 18 balls, but Agha maintained the momentum, adding another crucial 65 runs alongside Hasan Nawaz.
Agha notched up a half-century before falling for 56 off 34 balls. Nawaz, carrying his form from the Pakistan Super League, smashed 44 off 22 balls, including four sixes. His innings ended when he offered a straightforward catch to Rishad Hossain.
At 150-6 in the 16th over, Pakistan’s innings threatened to stall, but Shadab Khan’s impactful 48 off 25 balls, featuring two sixes, powered the hosts to a strong total of 201-7. Faheem Ashraf remained unbeaten on 11 at the close of innings.
For Bangladesh, Shoriful Islam was the pick of the bowlers, taking two wickets. Other bowlers contributed with one wicket each.
Pakistan XI: Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
Bangladesh XI: Litton Das (Captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, Jaker Ali (wk), Shamim Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam.
