New Delhi: 

Hosts Pakistan, led by Salman Agha, had won the toss and opted to bat first, only to see their openers Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub depart in the first two overs. While Ayub scored a golden duck, Zaman made a 4-ball 1 to give early troubles to Pakistan. The innings was soon balanced by wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris (31 off 18) and skipper Agha (56 off 34) as both combined for 48 runs for the third wicket.

 Pakistan cruised to a comfortable 37-run win against Bangladesh in their first T20I of the three-match series, held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday. The Men in Green were carried by Shadab Khan’s all-round exploits and Hasan Ali’s fiery five-wicket haul, which helped the team take a 1-0 lead in the three-match affair.

Middle-order batter Hasan Nawaz made a 65-run partnership along with Agha for the fourth wicket as he scored 44 off 22 balls (2 fours, 4 sixes), followed by Shadab Khan’s 25-ball 48 (5 fours, 2 sixes) which came at a crucial point, to deliver the final push for the hosts. These four major innings powered Pakistan’s total to a formidable 201/7 in 20 overs as Shoriful Islam was the pick of the Bangla bowlers, taking two wickets while the rest five bowlers in the attack got hold of one each.

Bangladesh’s tacky chase

From the middle, Jaker Ali made a contribution of 36 runs off 20 deliveries, hitting a four and three sixes in the process. This was the last significant knock of the Bangladeshi run chase as they were bundled out for 164 in 19.2 overs, and Hasan Ali went on to bag a five-for, taking three more wickets – of Jaker Ali, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, and Islam.

Meanwhile, Shadab Khan starred with his bowling as well, picking up two wickets of Litton Das and Rishad Hossain, and bagging the Player of the Match award, trumping teammate Hasan Ali. Bangladesh will be eyeing a win in the second T20I, scheduled on May 30 at the same venue to take things into the decider on June 1, while Pakistan will be eyeing a victory in the second game to seal the series and move forward into a rubber match.

Although opener Tanzid Hasan started quite well for Bangladesh as he struck a 17-ball 31, he was soon dismissed by Hasan Ali in the fourth over of the run chase. At this point, his fellow opener Parvez Hossain Emon (4 off 5) had already become the first scalp of Ali, departing in the second over. The innings were put back on track by skipper Litton Das, who struck a 30-ball 48 laced with a four and three sixes as he partnered with Towhid Hridoy (17 off 22) for 63 runs for the third wicket.

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