Pakistan VS Bangladesh T20 Series
1st Match Played at SBNCS, Dhaka on 19 November 2021
Pakistan 132/6 in 9.2 Overs (Fakhar Zaman 34, Khushdil Shah 34, Shadab Khan 21*, Mohammad Nawaz 18*, Taskin 2/31, Mustafiz 1/25, Shoriful 1/31)
Bangladesh 127/7 (Afif Hossain 36, Mahedi Hasan 30*, Nurul Hasan 28, Hasan Ali 3/22, Mohammad Wasim 2/24, Shadab Khan 1/20, Mohammad Nawaz 1/27)
Pakistan Won By 4 wickets
Player of the Match: Hasan Ali
New look Bengal tigers playing to the best of their abilities went down fighting against strong Pakistan by 4 wickets yesterday at SBNCS. Opting to bat after winning the toss top order failed yet again, but middle and late order did exceptionally well producing a competitive score of 127/7. Bangladesh bowlers bowling tight kept Bangladesh in the hunt till aggressive power hitting by Shadab Khan (21*) and Mohammad Nawaz (18*) at the crunch stage let them win by 4 wickets scoring 132/6 . Young Bangladesh team can talk lot of heart stretching strong Pakistan to their limit.
It was great for the game that wicket at SBNCS looked way bit different. Hasan Alai, Mohammad Wasim and Haris Rauf of Pakistan as well as Taskin, Mustafiz and Shoriful enjoyed the occasional tennis ball bounce of the wicket. However, both team batted poorly in the first power play and bowled equally poorly in the last slog overs. Pakistan having stronger power hitters in the late order won the match. It was far better show by the Bangladeshis after their dismal performance in the world cup. People would say Mahmudullah perhaps did not utilize his resources well. Leg spinner Aminul could be better utilized when Pakistan was struggling at 4/24 . His wrong ones against left handers could be effective. In special circumstances captain has to think out of the box.
Bangladesh batting followed the pattern of the world cup. Top order was dismantled by Hasan Ali and Mohammad Wasim. Naim, Saif, Shanto and Riad fell cheaply. Bangladesh was looking down the barrel at 40/4 in 10 overs. However, some brave hitting by Afif Hosain (36) with 2 fours and 2 sixes, Mehedi Hasan (30* in 20 balls) and Nurul Hasan (28 in 22 balls) led Bangladesh post a reasonable 127/7. 87 runs were added in the last 10 overs. Nawaz, Shadab, Wasim and Harris leaked 66 (15,13,12, 11 and 15) runs in the last 5 overs.
It was not a cakewalk for the Pakistanis. Mustafiz and Taskin made early inroads. . Mustafiz rocked the furniture of Rizwan with a brilliant ins winger. Taskin also castled Babar Azam. Haidar Ali was trapped in front by Mahedy. When experienced Shoaib Malik was smartly run out by wicket keeper Sohan Pakistan was reduced to 4/24 . However, Mahmudullah made a strategic mistake. Leg spinner Aminul could be tried at this stage. He thought with two left-handed batsmen Fakhar and Khsuhdil at the strike his off spin was better to keep them honest. He could have gambled. Anyway Khushdil (34) and Fakhar (34) stemmed the rot . Still Pakistan required some aggressive power shitting by Shadab (21* in 10 balls) and Mohammad Nawaz (18* in 8 balls) to carry Pakistan across the rope with 4 balls to spare. Mustafiz and Shoriful bowled too many short stuff feeding the stroke play. Pakistan winning by 4 wickets moved 1-0 ahead in the series. Bangladesh did exceptionally well stretching the inform Pakistanis to their limits.
Bangladesh has very little choice to rethink about top order batting. there is possibility that Shaheen Afridi may return today compounding issues for the top order. Saif, Naim, Shanto, even Afif and Sohan fell to ordinary strokes. Taskin bowled at express pace and looked supremely confident. But Mustafiz and Shoriful were too predictable at death overs.
Spectators back on the terrace for the first time enjoyed a truly competitive match. It is all right appreciating good cricket but home team must get greater support from the home crowd which was unfortunately missing yesterday.
BDST: 1215 HRS, NOV 20, 2021
SMS
