DHAKA: Since Bangladesh first beat Pakistan in 1999 World Cup some 16 years have already been passed. Meantime, luck never favored the Tigers.
But Friday was quiet opposite. Bangladesh broke the hoodoo, set several records in their One Day International (ODI) history and beat Pakistan for second time.
At first, a pair of centuries by Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim set up a 330-run target, Bangladesh's highest in ODIs, against Pakistan.
Then, a haul of three wickets by Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny each helped Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 79 run in the first game of the teams’ three -match ODI series.
Chasing the target, Azhar Ali began Pakistan’s innings with Sarfraz Ahmed on the other end of the crease while Rubel Hossain bowled the first over.
Three Pakistan batsmen hit fifties while five failed to reach the double digit including three got ducks.
Azhar Ali scored 72 off 73, Mohammad Rizwan contributed 67 off 58 and Haris Sohail added 51 off 64.
Sarfraz Ahmed and Fawad Alam contributed 24 and 14 runs respectively. Saad Nasim, Saeed Ajmal, and Junaid Khan got ducks.
Bangladesh stand-in captain Shakib Al Hasan decorated team’s blowing attacking with seven bowlers including himself.
Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny were most successful, taking three wickets each. The captain and seamer Rubel Hossain bagged one each. The Tigers also made two Pakistan batsmen victims of run out.
Prior to Pakistan’s innings, Bangladesh scored 329 for six in 50 overs. Tamim scored 132 while Mushfiqur contributed 106.
Tamim began the Tigers’ innings with Soumya Sarkar on the other end of the crease while Junaid Khan bowled the innings’ first over.
Tamim hit his career’s fifth ton in ODI, scoring 132 runs off 135 balls. He built his innings with 15 fours and three sixes with a strike rate of 97.77.
Wicketkeeper-cum-batsman Mushfiqur scored 106 runs not out of 77 balls. It is his third century of his ODI career. He built his innings with hitting 13 boundaries and two over boundaries with an astonishing strike rate – 131.66.
Together, Tamim and Mushfiqur also built a record 178-run partnership. They also set another record of double century in Tigers’ ODI history for the first time.
Opener Soumya (20 off 36) did not stay long after he had become victim of run out by Wahab Riaz when Tigers scored 48 in 3.2 overs.
Shakib Al Hasan contributed 31 off 27 – the third highest in the innings.
Sabbir Rahman added 15 off 7 while Mahmudullah and Nasir Hossain added just 5 and 3 runs respectively.
Pakistan used seven blowers against Bangladesh. Only Wahab Riaz and Rahat Ali were successful, taking four and one wickets respectively.
Pakistan blowers showed little bit courtesy, contributing 17 runs to the Tigers’ scoreboard as extra.
Earlier Bangladesh stand-in captain Shakib-Al-Hasan won the toss and decided to bat first. The match kicked off at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in city’s Mirpur at 2:30pm.
Regular captain Mashrafe Mortaza did played the match due to a ban in one match from International Cricket Council (ICC) for slow over rating in the World Cup 2015 quarterfinal match against India on March 19.
However, Mashrafe will lead Bangladesh in the rest of the two ODI matches and the lone Twenty20 match. Mushfiqur Rahim will captain the team in the test series.
Mushfiqur Rahim, who become the Man of the Matchm said: “I think Tamim should have got this. No, I won't share the award with Tamim, hopefully he gets it next time. I dedicate the award to my wife. The preparation was good.”
Defeated Pakistan captain Azhar Ali said: “We made some mistakes in the field and dropped some catches at the wrong time and the credit goes to the Bangladesh batsmen. They got 30-40 runs extra. Rizwan batted well, we had a few positives. We will fix the mistakes and come strong in the next game.”
Winning Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan said: “Tamim and Mushfiq batted really well, it was a good pitch to bat on. It was easy for us as a bowling unit. We just wanted to contain. It was a professional performance. Thanks to the crowd for the support.”
The second ODI of the series will be held on April 19 while the third one on 22 at the same venue. Both will be are day-night matches.
The T20i will be held on April 24 at Sher-e-Bangla before the two teams move to Khulna to play the first Test slated on April 28 to May 2.
** Tamin, Mushfiqur record sets 330 target
BDST: 1034 HRS/Update: 2338 HRS, APR 17, 2015
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