Bangladesh smash Pakistan in first ODI
With only a modest target of 115 from 50 overs, the only question was how quickly Bangladesh would wrap up the chase. The hosts hammered Pakistan’s bowlers and finished the match even before iftar.
Nahid Rana, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taskin Ahmed had already done half the job earlier. In the first ODI of the series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Pakistan were bowled out for just 114 thanks to Bangladesh's fiery bowling. With only a modest target of 115 from 50 overs, the only question was how quickly Bangladesh would wrap up the chase. The hosts hammered Pakistan's bowlers and finished the match even before iftar.
Bangladesh could have won the match by nine wickets. However, with just six runs needed for victory, Najmul Hossain Shanto was dismissed. Although that delayed the win slightly, the match still ended before the call to iftar. When the evening azan for iftar was heard at 6:07 pm, Bangladesh had already secured a commanding eight-wicket victory. The win was sealed in the second ball of the 16th over when Pakistan pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr. bowled a wide.
Chasing 115, Bangladesh lost an early wicket while trying to start aggressively. On the fourth ball of the third over, Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Saif Hassan for 4. Bangladesh were 27 for 1 in 2.4 overs at that stage but accelerated rapidly, finishing the powerplay (the first 10 overs) on 81 for 1.
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