Pakistan thump Bangladesh in T20 series opener

LAHORE: Pakistan thumped Bangladesh by 37 runs in the opening match of the three-match T20 International series at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday night, with fast bowler Hasan Ali producing a career-best performance to seal a commanding victory for the hosts.

Pakistan mustered 201 runs for seven wickets in 20 overs and later clamped Bangladesh at 164 for all in 19.2 overs.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Pakistan got off to a shaky start with their opening partnership crumbling early. Fakhar Zaman managed just 1 run while Saim Ayub departed for a duck, leaving the home side in early trouble. However, the recovery began through Mohammad Haris, who scored a brisk 31 off 18 balls with 4 fours and 1 six, forming a crucial 48-run partnership for the third wicket alongside Salman Agha.

The standout performer with the bat was Salman Agha, who anchored the innings with his third T20I fifty, scoring a magnificent 56 off 34 balls that included 8 fours and 1 six. His innings provided the stability and momentum Pakistan desperately needed. Agha found an able partner in Hasan Nawaz, who contributed an explosive 44 off 23 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes, as the duo stitched together a vital 65-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Nawaz’s aggressive approach, particularly against the spinners, significantly accelerated Pakistan’s scoring rate.

Following a middle-order collapse, vice captain Shadab Khan stepped up with a commanding knock of 48 off 24 balls, featuring 5 fours and 2 sixes. His attacking innings, combined with a valuable 50-run partnership with Faheem Ashraf for the seventh wicket, helped Pakistan reach a competitive total of 201 for seven in their allotted 20 overs. The hosts reached 50 in 5.4 overs and brought up their century in 10.5 overs, before scoring 58 runs in the final five overs to demonstrate their ability to accelerate at the death.

Bangladesh’s bowling attack was led by Shoriful Islam, who claimed 2 wickets for 32 runs, while the visitors deployed six different bowlers in their attempt to contain Pakistan. Tanzim Hasan Sakib (1-22) and Hasan Mahmud (1-24) proved to be the most economical, though Rishad Hossain had an expensive outing, conceding 55 runs for his single wicket.

In response, Bangladesh began their chase positively with Tanzid Hasan striking an aggressive 31 off 17 balls, including 2 fours and 3 sixes, before falling in the fourth over. Despite losing Parvez Hossain Emon early for just 4 runs, Bangladesh found stability through a crucial 63-run partnership for the third wicket between Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy. Das played a fighting knock of 48 off 30 balls with 1 four and 3 sixes, while Hridoy contributed 17 runs before both batsmen fell in quick succession around the 12-over mark.

Jaker Ali provided some late fireworks with a quickfire 36 off 20 balls, featuring 1 four and 3 sixes, but the Bangladesh innings collapsed dramatically from 100 for 2 to 164 all out in 19.2 overs. The visitors lost their last eight wickets for just 64 runs, with wickets falling at regular intervals as the required run rate climbed beyond reach.

The architect of Bangladesh’s downfall was Pakistan’s pace spearhead Hasan Ali, who produced a career-best bowling performance in T20 internationals, claiming 4 wickets for 30 runs to dismantle the visitor’s batting lineup.

He was well supported by vice captain Shadab Khan, who took 2 for 26, while Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, and Salman Agha each chipped in with a wicket. Bangladesh’s innings featured a rapid fall of wickets, starting with Emon’s dismissal in the second over, followed by Tanzid Hasan in the fourth, before the crucial third-wicket stand was broken when Das fell in the 12th over, triggering a collapse that saw the remaining wickets tumble in quick succession.

Pakistan’s comprehensive 37-run victory, achieved with four balls to spare, gives them an early 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with Hasan Ali’s exceptional bowling performance and the collective batting effort proving decisive in front of their home crowd at the Gaddafi Stadium.