Pakistan survived a rare top-order failure to beat Bangladesh by four wickets in the first T20 International at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka on Friday. After restricting the hosts to 127/7 in their match in Bangladesh in five years, Pakistan reached the target with four balls to spare, mainly thanks to an unbeaten 36-run seventh-wicket stand between Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan.
After losing four wickets for 24 runs in the powerplay, Pakistan rallied around Fakhar Zaman (34 off 36) and Khushdil Shah (34 off 35), who stitched a 56-run stand in 50 balls. But the T20 World Cup semi-finalists still needed some fireworks from Shadab (21 off 10) and Nawaz (18 off 8) in a nervy chase. For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed got a brace, while Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam took one wicket each.
Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first. With the trio of Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim missing, the hosts struggled with the bat. Afif Hossain top-scored with 36 off 34, while Nurul Hasan and Mahedi Hasan contributed with 28 and 30 runs each.
The second match of the three-match T20I series is scheduled for Saturday (November 20) at the same venue. Catch highlights of the first T20I cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan here:
5:10 PM IST: Result
Aminul Isla with the final over. A dot, then Shadab Khan (21 off 10) hits the second for a six over deep midwicket to seal the win. 36 runs in 2.3 overs with Mohammad Nawaz (18 off 8). PAK - 132/6 (19.2); BAN - 127/7 (20)
5:07 PM IST: 2 In 6
Shoriful Islam with the penultimate over. Mohammad Nawaz hits the third ball for a six, then another off the fifth. 30-run stand in 12 with Shadab Khan. A dot to end the over. 15 from the over. Pakistan need 2 in 6. Islam's figures: 1/31. PAK - 126/6 (19)
5:02 PM IST: 17 In 12
Mustafizur Rahman with his final over. Shadab Khan hits the first for a four, then a dot, Shadab hits the third for a six, over long off. 22 in 15 now. A single, then a dot. Mohammad Nawaz hits the last ball for a six, over fine leg. 15 from the over. Mustafizur's figures: 1/26. Pakistan need 17 runs in 12 balls. PAK - 111/6 (18)
4:56 PM IST: Six Down
Shoriful Islam on with his third over. Khushdil Shah hits the second ball for a four, to long-off. Two singles, and the wicket. Khushdil (34 off 35), caught behind. Mohammad Nawaz is the new man. Six runs and a wicket in the over. Pakistan need 32 runs in 18 balls. PAK - 96/6 (17)
4:48 PM IST: 38 In 24
Mustafizur Rahman returns for his third over. Khushdil Shah hits the fourth ball for a four, then a wide for height. Eight from the over. Pakistan need 38 runs in 24 balls. PAK - 90/5 (16)
4:38 PM IST: Five Down
Taskin Ahmed returns for his fourth over. Fakhar Zaman hits the first ball for a four. Then the wicket. 56-run stand broken. Fakhar (34 off 36) caught behind. Faint edge and easy for Nurul Hasan. Shadab Khan is the new man. PAK - 80/5 (14.2)
4:34 PM IST: 52 In 36
Mahmudullah with his third over. Khushdil Shah hits the third ball for a six, over long on. 10 from the over. Khushdil Shah (23 off 23) and Fakhar Zaman (30 off 34) in a fifty-run stand (52 off 48). Pakistan need 52 runs in 36 balls. PAK - 76/4 (14)
4:16 PM IST: 88 In 60
Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah introduces himself into the attack. Two singles. Pakistan manage to score 17 runs in the last 30 balls. They need 88 runs in the last ten overs. PAK - 40/4 (10)
4:01 PM IST: Lazy Malik
Stunning dismissal. Shoaib Malik plays a defensive shot off the last ball of the powerplay and it goes to Bangladesh wicketkeeper. The veteran Pakistan batter takes a stroll, lazily and is out. Run out. Touch and go. Nurul Hasan hits the wickets and Malik's bat some time to touch the ground. He goes for a three-ball duck. PAK - 24/4 (6)
3:50 PM IST: Three Down
Mahedi Hasan with his second over. He traps Haider Ali in front. LBW. Pakistan take review, but it's crashing into the middle. Ali goes for a three-ball duck. PAK - 23/3 (5)
3:45 PM IST: Babar Also Goes
Taskin Ahmed continues. Babar Azam hits the fourth ball for a four, but loses his wicket two balls later. Bowled by a Taskin beauty. Pakistan skipper goes for 7 off 10. PAK - 22/2 (4)
3:37 PM IST: Fizz Beauty
Mustafizur Rahman gets his first over. And he gets the wicket of Mohammad Rizwan (11 off 11). Bowled. Fakhar Zaman joins skipper Babar Zaman in the middle. PAK - 16/1 (2.4)
3:26 PM IST: That Pair Again
Mahedi Hasan with the new ball. Mohammad Rizwan takes the strike. He plays the third ball to backward point for three runs. Babar Azam his opening partner. Four runs from the over.
3:11 PM IST: Innings Break
Haris Rauf with the last over. Mahedi Hasan hits a six to start the over, then another to end the innings. 15 from the over. 47 runs in the last five overs. Hasan Ali's figures: 3/22. BAN - 127/7 (20)
3:03 PM IST: Seven Down
Hasan Ali with the penultimate over. He knocks over Aminul Islam (2 off 5). The over starts with a six, hit by Mahedi Hasan over mid-wicket. Taskin Ahmed joins Mahedi Hasan in the middle. BAN - 110/7 (18.4)
2:54 PM IST: Six Down
Hasan Ali returns for his third over. And he breaks the 35-run stand in 24 balls. Hasan Ali (28 off 22), caught behind. BAN - 96/6 (16.5)
2:46 PM IST: 30 Balls Remaining
Shadab Khan completes his spell. 15 from the last over, including a six and four. His figures: 1/20. 40 runs and one wicket in the last 30 balls. BAN 80/5 (15)
2:35 PM IST: Five Down
Shadab Khan returns for his third over. And he ends Afif Hossain's vigil. Stumped off the fifth ball. Atif goes for 36 off 34. 25 runs and two wickets in the last 30 balls for Bangladesh. Mahedi Hasan is the new man. BAN - 61/5 (12.5)
2:27 PM IST: Some Respite
Afif Hossain hits Mohammad Nawaz for back-to-back sixes. 15 from the over. 30 runs and one wicket in the last five overs. BAN - 55/4 (11)
2:22 PM IST: Atif Survives
Shadab Khan almost ticks the wickets column. Afif Hossain is given LBW out. Bangladesh take the review. Pitching on leg, and spins enough to miss the off. Atif survives. BAN 40/4 (9.5)
2:17 PM IST: Four Down
Mohammad Nawaz on with his third over. And he gets the big one. Mahmudullah (6 off 11) bowled by a beauty. Nurul Hasan is the new batter. BAN - 40/4 (9)
2:13 PM IST: Tigers Rebuild
Shadab Khan gets his first over. Four singles. Mahmudullah and Afif Hossain are rebuilding the Bangladesh innings. BAN 37/3 (8)
1:57 PM IST: More Trouble
Mohammad Wasim Jr continues and second wicket for the right-arm pacer. Najmul Hossain Shanto goes for 7 off 14. Caught and bowled. Mahmudullah is the new man. BAN - 16/3 (5)
1:46 PM IST: Bangladesh In Crisis
Mohammad Wasim Jr gets his first over and strikes. Saif Hassan is gone for 1 off 8. Caught behind off the sixth ball. In the previous over, Hasan Ali removed Mohammad Naim for 1 off 3. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Afif Hossain are the new batters in the centre. BAN 10/2 (3)
1:34 PM IST: Quiet Start
Mohammad Nawaz with the new ball. Mohammad Naim takes the strike. A single off the second ball. Three dots to Saif Hassan. And a wide. Two from the first over.
1:16 PM IST: Saif Hassan Debut
Bangladesh hand debut to 23-year-old top-order batter Saif Hassan. For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi is the notable absentee. He sits out.
"It's a new team, a lot of youngsters are coming in... Responsibilities will always be there, obviously, if those three -- Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim -- were there, it would be easy decision-making. But it's a good opportunity for the others," says Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah.
"140-150 looks a good score to chase on this track, feels Pakistan captain Babar Azam.
1:09 PM IST: Playing XIs
Bangladesh: Mohammad Naim, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Afif Hossain, Mahmudullah (c), Nurul Hasan (wk), Aminul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.
Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Shoaib Malik, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf.
1:03 PM IST: Toss
Bangladesh win the toss and opt to bat first against Pakistan.
12:56 PM IST: Just In
AB de Villiers has announced his retirement from all formats of cricket, effectively ending his association with Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Earlier in the day, Tim Paine stepped down as Australia Test captaincy over 'sexting' scandal.
Bangladesh will derive confidence from their performances at home. Skipper Mahmudullah's captaincy will be tested once again after Bangladesh selectors named a squad minus some star players. While Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal are out due to injuries, former skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das have been dropped due to poor form.
On the slow turners in Mirpur (Dhaka), Bangladesh will bank on their spinners. The spin duo of Mahedi Hasan and Nusum Ahmed will have to play a bigger role since Shakib's four overs of left-arm spin will be missed. The Bangladesh pace attack will be led by Taskin Ahmed, who finished with six wickets in six matches in the T20 World Cup.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam said Bangladesh were dangerous at home and he will take nothing for granted in spite of a superb outing at the World Cup. The team is loaded with performers and all eyes will be on Mohammad Rizwan, the opener who scored 281 runs in the T20 World Cup.
Babar Azam (303 runs in the World Cup), regarded as one of the world's top batsmen, will bank on his bowlers to deliver. While Shaheen Afridi remains the bowling spearhead, it will be spinning all-rounders Shahdab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz who will hold the key for Pakistan.
