DHAKA: Pakistan were bowled out for 114 in the opening one-day international against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday after the visitors struggled to build partnerships during their innings.
Five-wicket hero Nahid Rana, supported by a brilliant spell from Mehidy Hasan Miraz, wreaked havoc and bundled the Men in Green for a meagre score in just 30.4 overs.
Batting first, Pakistan got off to a promising start as the new opening pair of Maaz Sadaqat and Sahibzada Farhan set the tone with runs flowing quickly to give the visitors an ideal beginning.
However, the 41-run stand was broken when pacer Nahid Rana struck, dismissing Farhan who scored 27 off 38 balls, including four boundaries in the final over of the first powerplay.
Nahid struck again in the 12th over, removing debutant Shamyl Hussain who failed to contribute, scoring four off seven deliveries, leaving the team at 47-2 in 11.3 overs.
Pakistan struggled to preserve their wickets and kept losing them in quick succession as opener Maaz was sent back by Rana, scoring 18 off 28 balls with three fours.
Mohammad Rizwan was the next to fall, adding pressure on the Green Shirts, with Rana claiming yet another wicket; Rizwan contributed 10 off 20 deliveries, including two boundaries, leaving the team at 64-4 in 15.5 overs.
Rana picked up his fifth wicket, dismantling Pakistan’s batting order as Salman Ali Agha fell cheaply for five off eight balls, with a boundary to his name.
The Green Shirts were six down, with Bangladesh growing in confidence as Mehidy Hasan Miraz dismissed Abdul Samad for a six-ball duck, leaving Pakistan struggling at 70-6 in 19 overs.
Pakistan’s wickets continued to tumble as Mehidy Hasan struck again, claiming his second wicket by removing Hussain Talat for four off 13 deliveries.
In the same over, skipper Shaheen Afridi came to the crease and hit a boundary in an attempt to relieve the pressure, but his stay was brief as he was LBW to Mehidy Hasan for a run-a-ball four, leaving the team reeling at 81-8 in 22.5 overs.
Taskin Ahmed joined the attack and claimed his first wicket of the game by dismissing Wasim Jr for a duck. Faheem Ashraf held firm and added crucial runs to take his side past the 100-run mark in the 26th over.
However, Mustafizur Rahman struck to dismiss Faheem, claiming his first wicket of the match, and contributed 37 runs off 47 balls, including six fours and one six, to close the innings.
Nahid Rana tore through Pakistan’s batting lineup with a brilliant 5/24 in seven overs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz took three wickets, while Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed claimed one wicket each.
Series Schedule
11 March: First ODI – Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
13 March: Second ODI – Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
15 March: Third ODI – Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
