By Alam Zeb Safi
MIRPUR, Bangladesh: Fast bowler Nahid Rana ripped through Pakistan’s fragile batting lineup with a five-wicket haul to set up a comprehensive eight-wicket victory for the Bangladesh in the opening one-day international at Shere Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday.
Bangladesh chased down a modest target of 115 in just 15.1 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, finishing on 115 for two with a staggering 209 balls to spare.
Rana produced a career-defining spell of 5-24 as Pakistan were dismissed for just 114 in 30.4 overs after Bangladesh elected to field first.
Pakistan’s innings never recovered after a promising start from openers Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat.
Farhan struck four boundaries in a cautious 27 while Sadaqat added 18, helping Pakistan reach 41 before Rana struck his first blow by removing Farhan at the end of the 10th over.
The tall right-arm pacer then triggered a dramatic collapse. He dismissed Shamyl Hussain for four and soon accounted for wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, who edged behind for 10.
Rana continued his destruction by removing Salman Agha for five, leaving Pakistan reeling at 69 for five.
Spin and seam worked in tandem as Bangladesh tightened the grip. Miraz trapped Hussain Talat leg-before and later dismissed debutant Abdul Samad, while Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi fell cheaply to Miraz.
Lower-order resistance from all-rounder Faheem Ashraf briefly delayed the inevitable. Ashraf top-scored with 37 off 47 balls, striking six fours and a six before he was caught off Mustafizur Rahman to end Pakistan’s innings.
Miraz finished with three for 29 while Rahman and Taskin Ahmed claimed one wicket each.
Chasing a small target, Bangladesh lost opener Saif Hassan early when Afridi struck in the third over, but the setback barely slowed the hosts.
Aggressive left-hander Tanzid Hasan counter-attacked with a fluent unbeaten 67 off 42 balls, smashing seven fours and five sixes.
He shared a 82-run partnership with Najmul Hossain Shanto. Shanto contributed a steady 27 from 33 deliveries before he was dismissed by Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Wicketkeeper Litton Das then joined Tanzid to finish the chase with ease as Bangladesh sealed victory inside 16 overs.
The emphatic result gives Bangladesh early momentum in the series, while Pakistan will be left searching for answers after a batting collapse that undermined their chances from the outset.
Scorecard
Pakistan Innings – 114 all out (30.4 overs)
Batter Runs Balls 4s 6s
Sahibzada Farhan c Afif Hossain b Nahid Rana 27 38 4 0
Maaz Sadaqat c Saif Hassan b Nahid Rana 18 28 3 0
Shamyl Hussain c Litton Das b Nahid Rana 4 7 0 0
Mohammad Rizwan c Litton Das b Nahid Rana 10 20 2 0
Salman Agha c Tanzid Hasan b Nahid Rana 5 8 1 0
Hussain Talat lbw b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 4 13 0 0
Abdul Samad c Litton Das b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 0 6 0 0
Faheem Ashraf c Taskin Ahmed b Mustafizur Rahman 37 47 6 1
Shaheen Shah Afridi lbw b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 4 4 1 0
Mohammad Wasim c Najmul Hossain Shanto b Taskin Ahmed 0 3 0 0
Abrar Ahmed not out 0 10 0 0
Extras: 5
Total: 114 all out (30.4 overs)
Bangladesh Bowling
Nahid Rana – 7–0–24–5
Mehidy Hasan Miraz – 10–0–29–3
Mustafizur Rahman – 4.4–0–18–1
Taskin Ahmed – 7–0–29–1
Rishad Hossain – 2–0–10–0
Bangladesh Innings – 115/2 (15.1 overs)
Batter Runs Balls 4s 6s
Saif Hassan c Shamyl Hussain b Shaheen Shah Afridi 4 10 0 0
Tanzid Hasan not out 67 42 7 5
Najmul Hossain Shanto c Rizwan b Mohammad Wasim Jr 27 33 5 0
Litton Das not out 3 6 0 0
Extras: 14
Total: 115/2 (15.1 overs)
Pakistan Bowling
Shaheen Shah Afridi – 5–1–35–1
Faheem Ashraf – 2–0–19–0
Mohammad Wasim Jr – 3.1–0–24–1
Abrar Ahmed – 3–0–25–0
Salman Agha – 2–0–12–0
Result: Bangladesh won by 8 wickets
Player of the Match: Nahid Rana
Series: Bangladesh lead the 3-match series 1-0
