Pakistan has defeated Bangladesh by 37 runs in the opening match of the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
Hasan Ali was the pick of the bowlers with five scalps while Shadab Khan took two wickets.
Batting first, Pakistan set a target of 202 runs for Bangladesh. Pakistan openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub fell cheaply, scoring just 1 and 0 respectively, leaving Pakistan at a precarious 1/2 in the opening overs.
However, a counter-attacking partnership between Mohammad Haris and skipper Salman Agha steadied the ship. Haris smashed a quickfire 31 off 18 balls with 4 boundaries and a six, while Salman anchored the innings with a classy 56 off 34, laced with 8 fours and a six.
Momentum surged when Hasan Nawaz and Shadab Khan joined forces, launching a brutal assault on the Bangladeshi bowlers. Nawaz hammered 44 off 22 deliveries, including 4 towering sixes, while Shadab played an equally aggressive knock of 48 off 25 balls, finding the boundary 5 times and clearing it twice.
Pakistan’s innings slowed in the final overs with the fall of wickets. Khushdil Shah managed only 5 off 10, while Faheem Ashraf added a useful unbeaten 11 off 6 balls. Hasan Ali chipped in with a single run off the last ball.
For Bangladesh, Shoriful Islam was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 2 wickets for 23 runs, while Mahedi Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, and Shamim Hossain took a wicket apiece.
Earlier, Green Shirts won the toss and chose to bat first.
Captain Salman Ali Agha opted for a batting start on home soil. Pakistan introduced six changes to the squad that played in the T20I series against New Zealand in March.
