Bangladesh Set 128-Run Target for Pakistan in first T20I

Bangladesh set 128-run target for Pakistan to win the T20I series opener at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday, reports media.

Only three batsmen managed to reach double figures- Afif Hossain (36), Nurul Hasan Sohan (28) and Mahedi Hasan (30*). Mahedi’s cameo at the end off 20 deliveries was what took Bangladesh past 120.

For Pakistan, Hasan Ali picked up three wickets with Mohammad Wasim picking up a couple.

After opting to bat first, Bangladesh were in trouble immediately as they lost three wickets within the powerplay. Saif Hassan (1) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (7), brought in for this series, failed to capitalise on their opportunity.

Afif’s innings gave Bangladesh some space to breath and Sohan’s innings took them near 100, before Mahedi’s cameo took them beyond 120.

And a last delivery six from Taskin Ahmed took Bangladesh to 127-7.

Squads

Pakistan: 1 Babar Azam (capt), 2 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 3 Fakhar Zaman, 4 Haider Ali, 5 Shoaib Malik, 6 Khushdil Shah, 7 Mohammad Nawaz, 8 Shadab Khan, 9 Hasan Ali, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Mohammad Wasim Jr

Bangladesh: 1 Mohammad Naim, 2 Saif Hassan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Mahmudullah (capt), 5 Afif Hossain, 6 Nurul Hasan (wk), 7 Shoriful Islam, 8 Taskin Ahmed, 9 Aminul Islam, 10 Mahedi Hasan, 11 Mustafizur Rahman