Bangladesh Take 1-0 Lead in T20I Series with Commanding Win
Bangladesh began their three-match T20I series against Pakistan in emphatic fashion, cruising to a 7-wicket win at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. It was a clinical all-round performance by the home team, led by Parvez Hossain Emon’s unbeaten 56 off 39 balls. Bangladesh chased down the target of 111 in just 15.3 overs, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
Pakistan Struggles with the Bat on a Tough Surface
Sent in to bat first, Pakistan never looked settled on a challenging surface. The visitors were bundled out for a modest 110 in 19.3 overs, unable to cope with Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling attack.
Fakhar Zaman looked in fine touch early on and top-scored for Pakistan with 44 off 34 deliveries. However, his promising innings ended in an unfortunate run-out, halting any momentum Pakistan hoped to build.
Abbas Afridi (22 off 24) and Khushdil Shah (17 off 23) added 33 runs for the 7th wicket, which was the only significant partnership of the innings. The rest of the top order collapsed under pressure, with two key run-outs and a flurry of mistimed shots further derailing the innings.
Bangladesh Bowlers Dominate Early
Taskin Ahmed led the charge with the ball, claiming 3 wickets for 22 runs in just 3.3 overs. His pace and accuracy proved too much for the Pakistani batters.
Mustafizur Rahman continued his impressive form on home soil, bowling a brilliant spell of 4 overs, conceding just 6 runs and picking up 2 key wickets. His subtle variations and slower deliveries were tough to read, especially on a slightly tacky Dhaka pitch.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib (1/20 in 4 overs) and the rest of the bowling unit provided excellent support, ensuring no Pakistani batter could settle in.
Emon and Hridoy Seal the Chase Comfortably
Bangladesh’s run-chase didn’t start smoothly. Salman Mirza, making his debut for Pakistan, removed Tanzid Hasan and captain Litton Das early, giving Pakistan a brief glimmer of hope.
However, once Parvez Hossain Emon and Towhid Hridoy came together, the hosts took complete control of the game. The pair added a match-defining 73-run stand for the third wicket, attacking Pakistan’s bowlers with precision and purpose.
Hridoy was dropped twice — once by Abrar Ahmed and once by wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris — but made the most of his chances, scoring a composed 36 off 37 balls. His positive intent ensured that the required rate was never out of hand.
Emon, on the other hand, was the aggressor. He struck boundaries at regular intervals, kept rotating the strike smartly, and ensured that there were no hiccups in the chase. His 56* from just 39 balls included some delightful strokes through the offside and over mid-wicket.
Jaker Ali (15* off 10) provided the finishing touches, smashing a couple of boundaries to wrap up the chase with 27 balls to spare.
Player of the Match: Parvez Hossain Emon
The young opener was rightly awarded the Player of the Match for his unbeaten half-century. Speaking after the game, Emon said: “I’m really happy with the knock. I wanted to stay positive and play my natural game. Hridoy and I focused on building a partnership and hitting the bad balls. The crowd support at Dhaka always gives us extra energy.”
Captain’s Reactions
Litton Das (Bangladesh Captain)
“We knew it wouldn’t be an easy wicket to bat on, but the bowlers did a fantastic job. Dew helped a bit in the second innings, but credit goes to the fielders and bowlers. Mustafizur and Taskin were outstanding. It’s great to see our top four spending more time in the middle. Hridoy is maturing well, and I’m happy with how Emon played.”
Salman Agha (Pakistan Captain)
“We didn’t score enough. We started okay but kept losing wickets. That cost us. Bangladesh conditions are always tricky for batting, and we need to adjust better. The bowlers tried hard, but we just didn’t have enough runs. We’ll have to regroup quickly for the next game.”
Looking Ahead
With this emphatic win, Bangladesh have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The visitors will need to bounce back quickly and address their batting issues before the second T20I. Bangladesh, on the other hand, will look to continue their momentum and seal the series in the next game. Their top-order looks in fine form, and the bowlers are firing collectively. The second T20I promises to be another exciting encounter as both teams aim to build towards the T20 World Cup later this year.
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