T20I series opener
\nParvez Hossain, Towhid Hridoy remain top scorers for hosts with 56, 36 runs, respectively
\nNews Agency
\nmirpur
\nBangladesh defeated Pakistan by seven wickets with Parvez Hossain Emon\u2019s half century in the first clash of the three-match T20I series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka on Sunday.
\nChasing a modest target of 111, the hosts suffered early setbacks as debutant Salman Mirza struck twice in his opening spell.
\nHe removed Tanzid Hasan for just one run in the first over and followed it up with the wicket of Bangladesh skipper Litton Das \u2014 also for one \u2014 in his second over, leaving the home side struggling at 7-2 in 2.2 overs.
\nParvez Hossain and Towhid Hridoy then steadied the innings with a crucial 73-run partnership for the third wicket, rebuilding Bangladesh\u2019s chase after the early collapse.
\nThe stand was eventually broken by Abbas Afridi, who dismissed Hridoy for 36 off 37 balls, with Bangladesh at 80-3 in 12.3 overs.
\nEmon continued his fine form, anchoring the chase with a composed knock. He brought up his second T20I fifty and remained unbeaten on 56, guiding Bangladesh to victory in 15.3 overs.
\nJaker Ali chipped in with 15 off 10 deliveries to help Bangladesh take a 1-0 lead in the series.
\nFor Pakistan, Salman Mirza impressed on debut with figures of 2\/23 in 3.3 overs, while Abbas Afridi picked up one wicket.
\nBatting first, Pakistan showed early promise through openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, who found boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking. However, the momentum quickly faded.
\nSaim was dismissed for six by Taskin Ahmed in the second over, and Mohammad Haris followed soon after, hitting a boundary off Mahedi Hasan before being bowled on the next ball.
\nSkipper Agha Salman struggled to get going and fell to Tanzim Hasan Sakib for just three.
\nThe pressure mounted as Mustafizur Rahman removed Hassan Nawaz for a duck, reducing Pakistan to 41-4. Mohammad Nawaz\u2019s run-out due to a miscommunication further dented Pakistan\u2019s hopes, leaving them at 46-5 in 7.4 overs.
\nFakhar Zaman was the standout performer, scoring a resilient 44 off 34 balls. However, his innings was cut short following another mix-up, this time with Khushdil Shah, resulting in a run-out at 70-6.
\nAbbas Afridi offered some late resistance, smashing three sixes, while Khushdil tried to stabilise the innings. Their 33-run stand was broken when Mustafizur dismissed Khushdil for 17, leaving Pakistan at 103-7 in 16.2 overs.
\nTaskin Ahmed returned to dismantle the lower order, dismissing Faheem Ashraf (5), running out debutant Salman Mirza for a duck, and eventually removing Afridi for 22 to wrap up the innings.
\nPakistan were bowled out for 110 in 19.5 overs \u2014 marking their lowest T20I total against Bangladesh.
\nTaskin Ahmed led the bowling charge with figures of 3 for 24, while Mustafizur Rahman claimed 2 for 29. Mahedi Hasan and Tanzim Hasan Sakib chipped in with a wicket apiece.
\nIt is pertinent to mention that the second T20I of the series will be played at the same venue on Tuesday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
T20I series opener Parvez Hossain, Towhid Hridoy remain top scorers for hosts with 56, 36 runs, respectively News Agency mirpur Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by seven wickets with Parvez Hossain Emon\u2019s half century in the first clash of the three-match T20I series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka on Sunday. Chasing a modest […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":491594,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-491564","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n