Hosts chase down Pakistan’s 115-run target, losing just two wickets in 15.1 overs
DHAKA: Tanzid Hasan struck an impressive half-century after a dominant bowling performance from Bangladesh national cricket team helped them defeat Pakistan national cricket team by eight wickets in the first One-Day International at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Chasing a modest target of 115, the hosts reached the total comfortably, losing only two wickets in 15.1 overs as Bangladesh’s top order delivered a commanding performance.
Bangladesh national cricket team made a confident start to their chase as openers Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan laid a solid foundation. Tanzid took the attacking role, scoring freely against Shaheen Afridi and Faheem Ashraf in the early overs.
The opening partnership produced 27 runs before Afridi struck to dismiss Saif for four off 10 balls.
Following the breakthrough, Tanzid joined forces with Najmul Hossain Shanto to build a strong partnership. The pair played attacking cricket, regularly finding the boundary and taking the total past 50 within seven overs. Their aggressive approach kept the Pakistani bowlers under pressure as they added a fifty-run stand with a series of fours and sixes.
Tanzid continued his excellent form, bringing up his fifth ODI half-century and guiding Bangladesh to 92-1 in 12 overs. The 82-run partnership eventually ended when Mohammad Wasim Jr dismissed Shanto for 27 off 33 balls, which included five boundaries.
Bangladesh soon completed the chase with Tanzid remaining unbeaten on 67 from 42 deliveries, striking seven fours and five sixes. Litton Das remained not out on three as the hosts secured a comfortable victory.
Earlier, Pakistan made a promising start after being sent in to bat, as the opening pair of Maaz Sadaqat and Sahibzada Farhan added 41 runs for the first wicket. However, Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana provided the breakthrough by dismissing Farhan for 27 off 38 balls, including four boundaries, in the final over of the powerplay.
Rana struck again in the 12th over to remove debutant Shamyl Hussain for four, leaving Pakistan at 47-2. The wickets continued to fall as Rana dismissed Maaz for 18 off 28 balls, while Mohammad Rizwan managed just 10 before also becoming Rana’s victim.
Pakistan’s struggles deepened as Salman Ali Agha fell for five, giving Rana his fifth wicket and leaving the batting order in disarray.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz further tightened Bangladesh’s grip on the match by dismissing Abdul Samad for a duck and later removing Hussain Talat for four. Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi attempted to counterattack but was trapped LBW by Mehidy for four, reducing Pakistan to 81-8.
Taskin Ahmed joined the attack and dismissed Wasim Jr for a duck. Faheem Ashraf tried to stabilize the innings and helped Pakistan cross the 100-run mark with a fighting 37 off 47 balls, including six fours and a six, before being dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman.
Rana produced a brilliant bowling performance, finishing with 5-24 in seven overs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed three wickets, while Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed picked up one wicket each to wrap up Pakistan’s innings.
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