Pakistan Edges Bangladesh in Thrilling First T20I

In a nail-biting encounter at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan t20i narrowly defeated Bangladesh by five wickets in the first T20I of their three-match series. The match had fans on the edge of their seats as momentum swung back and forth, but the hosts held their nerve to take a 1-0 lead.

Bangladesh’s (t20i) Innings: A Mixed Bag

Opting to bat first, Bangladesh t20i got off to a shaky start, losing opener Litton Das early for just 9 runs. Tanzid Tamim (23) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (25) tried to stabilize the innings, but Pakistan’s disciplined bowling kept the pressure on. The middle order struggled to accelerate, with wickets falling at regular intervals.

Towhid Hridoy provided some resistance with a gritty 36 off 34 balls, but it was Mahmudullah’s late cameo (23* off 12) that pushed Bangladesh to a modest total of 145/7 in their 20 overs.

For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi (2/21) and Mohammad Amir (1/23) were brilliant with the new ball, while Shadab Khan (1/20) and Naseem Shah (1/26) kept things tight in the middle overs.

Pakistan’s Chase: Saim Ayub Shines, But It Wasn’t Easy

Chasing 146, Pakistan’s openers, Saim Ayub and Mohammad Rizwan, started cautiously. Ayub, in particular, looked in fine touch, playing some elegant strokes. However, Rizwan (12) fell cheaply, and when Fakhar Zaman (4) followed soon after, Bangladesh sensed an opportunity.

Ayub continued to anchor the innings, scoring a well-compiled 46 off 42 balls, but his dismissal in the 13th over left Pakistan at 85/4, making the game anyone’s to win.

The Iftikhar & Shadab Rescue Act

With the required rate creeping up, Iftikhar Ahmed (21* off 16) and Shadab Khan (14* off 10) stepped up when it mattered most. The duo kept their cool, finding boundaries at crucial moments to steer Pakistan home with five balls to spare.

Bangladesh’s bowlers fought hard—Mustafizur Rahman (2/16) was exceptional with his variations, and Taskin Ahmed (1/24) bowled with fire—but in the end, Pakistan’s experience in tight chases proved decisive.

Key Takeaways

• Saim Ayub’s maturity at the top was a big positive for Pakistan.
• Bangladesh’s death bowling (led by Mustafizur) kept them in the game.
• Pakistan’s middle-order nerves were tested, but they passed.

What’s Next?

The second T20I will be played at the same venue on April 27, and Bangladesh will be desperate to level the series. Can they bounce back, or will Pakistan seal the series early?

Final Scorecard:

• Bangladesh: 145/7 (20 overs) – Hridoy 36, Mahmudullah 23* | Shaheen 2/21
• Pakistan: 146/5 (19.1 overs) – Ayub 46, Iftikhar 21* | Mustafizur 2/16

Result: Pakistan won by 5 wickets.

Stay tuned for more updates as this exciting series unfolds! 🏏🔥

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