Bangladesh kick off the series with an effortless win, powered by a record-breaking spell from “Mustafizur Rahman” and a blistering half-century from “Parvez Hossain”.
International cricket returned to Mirpur’s Home of Cricket after nearly nine months. It was also the first match under lights in over 14 months. Despite being a working day, fans started filling the stands even before the toss. By the middle of the first innings, there wasn’t a seat left. With chants of “Bangladesh, Bangladesh” echoing all around, the packed crowd created a vibrant atmosphere—and they weren’t disappointed. “Parvez Hossain” and “Mustafizur Rahman” ensured a dominant win for Bangladesh with stellar performances in both bowling and batting.
“Mustafizur” laid the foundation with the ball, using his variety on a bowler-friendly pitch to pick up 2 wickets for just 6 runs in 4 overs. The rest of the bowling attack backed him up superbly, resulting in Pakistan being bowled out for the first time ever against Bangladesh in T20Is. Later, opener “Parvez” blasted a match-winning knock with the bat.
At the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh sealed a 7-wicket win, chasing down the 111-run target with 27 balls to spare, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
This was Pakistan’s lowest total against Bangladesh in T20Is. In fact, Bangladesh had never taken more than 7 wickets in a T20I against Pakistan in their previous 22 meetings.
It was also Bangladesh’s first win over Pakistan’s full-strength team in nine years—their last win coming back in the 2016 Asia Cup. Apart from that, they had defeated Pakistan’s second-string side at the 2023 Asian Games.
“Mustafizur” set a new record for the most economical full 4-over spell by a Bangladeshi bowler in T20Is, conceding just 6 runs. Incidentally, he already held the previous record jointly with “Tanzim Hasan” and “Rishad Hossain” for giving away 7 runs in 4 overs.
This also marked the fourth time “Mustafizur” gave away less than 10 runs in his full quota of overs in a T20I—something no bowler from any ICC full-member nation has ever done.
However, the Player of the Match award went to “Parvez Hossain” for his blistering 56 off 39 balls, smashing 3 fours and 5 sixes—an incredible comeback after being dismissed for ducks in his last two matches.
The day began with Bangladesh breaking their 9-match toss-losing streak. Seeing a decent pitch, captain “Litton” chose to bowl first.
Bangladesh could’ve struck in the first over, but “Taskin Ahmed” dropped a sitter at fine leg off “Sheikh Mehedi Hasan” to give “Fakhar Zaman” a life. However, in the next over, “Taskin” made amends by removing “Saim Ayub”.
“Mehedi” didn’t have to wait long either, dismissing “Mohammad Haris” in his next over as the batter mistimed a big shot to deep midwicket.
Despite losing two wickets inside three overs, Pakistan weren’t under too much pressure at 32/2. But then came a collapse. Over the next five overs, “Mustafizur”, “Mehedi”, and “Tanzim Hasan” tightened the screws.
In the fourth over, “Tanzim” had “Salman Ali Agha” dancing on the crease before dismissing him caught behind after four consecutive dot balls. The Pakistan skipper managed only 3 runs off 9 balls.
“Mustafizur” returned in the powerplay’s final over to dismiss “Hasan Nawaz”, and a run-out accounted for “Mohammad Nawaz” soon after. Pakistan were reeling at 46/5, having lost 3 wickets for just 14 runs between overs 4 and 8.
“Fakhar”, who had earlier survived a chance, got another life on 30 when “Mehedi” failed to hold on to a fierce return catch and even took a blow on the face. But the opener couldn’t make the most of it—eventually run out after scoring 44 off 34 balls with 6 fours and a six.
Pakistan looked unlikely to even reach 100, but a quickfire counterattack by “Khushdil Shah” and “Abbas Afridi” brought them four sixes in two overs, helping them cross the 100-mark in the 16th over.
However, the collapse resumed as they lost their last 4 wickets for just 8 runs in 3.3 overs, including a chaotic final over where they lost three wickets in as many balls.
Bangladesh’s chase began shakily. Debutant “Salman Mirza” dismissed “Tanzid Hasan” with a rising delivery in the very first over. An over later, the same bowler sent back “Litton”, putting the hosts under pressure.
The situation could have worsened when “Towhid Hridoy” survived two chances in the powerplay—first dropped by “Abrar Ahmed” and then missed by keeper “Mohammad Haris” behind the stumps.
“Hridoy” capitalized on those lifelines, building a 73-run stand off 62 balls with “Parvez”. With the target not too daunting, both batsmen paced their innings with a one-day approach.
The partnership ended in the 13th over when “Hridoy” was bowled by “Abbas” for 36 off 37 balls.
But “Parvez” didn’t want to drag the match any longer. Partnering with “Jaker Ali”, he finished the chase with an unbroken 32-run stand in just 18 balls.
The highlight came in the 14th over when “Parvez” hammered “Faheem Ashraf” for a four, followed by three successive boundaries—4, 6, 4—to bring up his second T20I fifty in just 34 balls.
It was “Jaker” who hit the winning runs off “Salman Mirza”, sealing the emphatic victory for Bangladesh.
The teams will meet again on Tuesday for the second match at the same venue, with Bangladesh aiming to seal the series and extend their winning streak to four matches across formats.
Brief Scores
Pakistan: 110 all out in 19.3 overs (Fakhar 44, Taskin 3/22, Mustafizur 2/6)
Bangladesh: 112/3 in 15.3 overs (Parvez 56*, Hridoy 36)
Result: Bangladesh won by 7 wickets
Player of the Match: Parvez Hossain
