Pacer Hasan Ali claimed five wickets while Shadab Khan shone with both bat and ball as Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 37 runs in the first of the three-match T20I series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday.听
Chasing 202, Bangladesh managed 164 in 19.2 overs after losing their last eight wickets for just 64 runs.听
Hasan, who was playing his first international match in more than a year, registered his career-best figure of 5-30.听
Losing the toss, Bangladesh had two Pakistan openers early in the innings as Saim Ayub was caught and bowled in the first over off Mahedi Hasan, followed by Fakhar Zaman being lbw to Shoriful Islam in the next.听
However, Mohammad Haris led Pakistan鈥檚 counterattack as they managed 40 runs in the last three overs of the powerplay.听
A quickfire partnership of 48 runs between Haris (31 off 18) and captain Salman Ali Agha鈥攚hich came to an end when Tanzim Hasan dismissed Haris soon after the powerplay鈥攍ifted Pakistan from a precarious position.
The middle order put on a strong display as they kept going on the foundation laid by those two.听
Hasan Nawaz, who was the player of the tournament in the recently concluded Pakistan Super Leage, added 65 and 21 runs with Salman and Shadab Khan, respectively.听
He became the first victim of Rishad Hossain after making 44 off 22 before Salman (56 off 34) was caught off Hasan Mahmud.听
Liton Das juggled his bowlers but couldn鈥檛 find the timely breakthroughs. The Bangladesh captain had Shamim Hossain bowl four overs, who had previously bowled two overs in his entire career.听
This was the first time after four matches that the Bangladesh innings saw more than five bowlers, and each were among the wickets.听
The fielding started positively but seemed to have lost the rhythm as the innings progressed. There were a couple of run-out chances missed as well.听
Shamim had Khushdil Shah for five at the start of the 17th over, but Shadab ensured that Pakistan got a strong finish. The last four overs yielded 52 runs, which saw the hosts cross the 200-mark. 听
Despite losing Parvez Hossain cheaply, Tanzid Hasan brought a good start for Bangladesh. But the left-hander once again couldn鈥檛 capitalise on the start he got, as he was bowled by Hasan in a slower and angling delivery after making 31 off 17.听
Liton, who scored 48 off 30, looked in fine touch until he was caught at backward point off Shadab.听
The Bangladesh captain, however, had to carry most of the load in his partnership of 63 runs with Tawhid Hridoy, as the latter was struggling.听
Liton鈥檚 wicket opened the floodgate for Pakistan as Bangladesh lost four wickets for just 24 runs.听
Hridoy was lbw to Khushdil after scoring 17 off 22, while Shamim was stumped off Salman before Rishad became Shadab鈥檚 victim.听
Jaker Ali hit three sixes in his 21-ball, 36-run innings, but by then the required run rate was around 15. Bangladesh couldn鈥檛 put up a fight after that.
听Shadab took two wickets apart from Hasan's five-for.听
The second match of the series is on May 30 at the same venue. 听
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