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Published : 20 Jul 2025, 09:43 PM
Bangladesh have launched their T20 series against Pakistan in emphatic fashion, romping to a 7-wicket win in Dhaka after skittling the visitors for just 110 and chasing the modest target inside 16 overs.
The hosts were clinical from the outset at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday, with Taskin Ahmed (3-22) and Mustafizur Rahman (2-6) leading a superb bowling display, before Parvez Hossain Emon anchored the chase with a composed, unbeaten 56 off 39 deliveries.
Put in to bat, Pakistan were bundled out in 18.5 overs, the first time Bangladesh have dismissed them entirely in a T20 International.
Tight lines, sharp fielding, and three run-outs combined to choke the innings, which never recovered from an uncertain start. Fakhar Zaman (44) offered brief resistance but was at the centre of two calamitous run-outs, one of which ended his own stay.
Parvez then anchored the chase with a breezy 56 off 39 balls, lacing it with 5 sixes and 3 fours, to ensure a smooth finish after Bangladesh lost two early wickets.
Earlier, Taskin atoned for dropping Fakhar in the opening over by removing Saim Ayub the very next ball. Mohammad Haris, who had plundered a century in his last appearance against Bangladesh, fell cheaply in the third over, misjudging a Mahedi Hasan long-hop to deep midwicket.
A probing spell from Tanzim Hasan Sakib further tightened the noose, dismissing Salman Agha, before Mustafizur returned to deliver the most economical full spell by a Bangladeshi in the format.
The final collapse was swift: Pakistan lost three wickets in three balls in the penultimate over, including two to Taskin, with another run-out bringing the innings to a sorry end. Only Fakhar managed to pass 20.
In response, Bangladesh made a shaky start. Debutant left-arm seamer Salman Mirza (2 for 23) struck in his opening over, removing Tanzid Hasan for a duck before having captain Litton Das caught sharply at slip.
But Parvez Emon, unfazed by the early wobble, launched a counterattack. He cleared the ropes five times, including a one-handed loft over mid-off and a towering hit off part-timer Ayub.
Supported by Towhid Hridoy (36), the pair added 73 in fluent fashion, helped by Pakistan’s continued sloppiness in the field -- Hridoy was dropped twice.
After Hridoy eventually holed out, Jaker Ali (15 not out) applied the finishing touches, striking two boundaries from his first four balls.
Parvez brought up his half-century with a crisp flat-batted six, and though he was dropped on 55, it scarcely mattered.
Jaker sealed victory with a pull through midwicket, the hosts coasting home with 27 balls to spare.
The result hands Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and delivers a statement win in front of the home crowd.
RECORD HIGHLIGHTS
This is Pakistan’s lowest team score against Bangladesh in T20s. In their previous 22 encounters, Bangladesh had never managed to claim more than 7 wickets.
This is the first time in nine years that the Tigers have emerged victorious against Pakistan’s main team.
Before Sunday, their last victory was in the 2016 Asia Cup. Apart from that, they had defeated Pakistan’s second-string team during the 2023 Asian Games.
Among Bangladeshi bowlers completing 4 overs in a T20 match, Mustafizur now holds the record for giving away the fewest runs.
The previous record for conceding 7 runs in 4 overs also belonged to the veteran pacer alongside Tanzim Hasan and Rishad Hossain.
This also marks the fourth time in this format that Mustafizur has conceded fewer than 10 runs in a match. No other bowler from any ICC full-member nation has managed to give away under 10 runs in 4 overs on four occasions.
The player of the match award, however, went to Parvez, who smashed 56 off 39 balls. The left-handed opener, dismissed for 0 in the past two games, struck 3 fours and 5 sixes in his innings.
