2nd T20I: Pakistan win toss, bowl first against Bangladesh

Dhaka (Web Desk): Pakistan won the toss and decided to field first against Bangladesh, in the second T20I of the three-match series at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday.

Bangladesh kicked off their T20I series against Pakistan in style, pulling off a convincing win to mark their fourth victory over the visitors in the format. Chasing a modest target of 111, the home side got the job done with ease, reaching the finish line in just 15.3 overs while keeping seven wickets in hand.

Pakistan, sent in to bat first, struggled to gain any momentum as their batting unit faltered under pressure. The tourists could only muster 110 runs before being bundled out, failing to post a competitive score on the board. Bangladesh’s bowlers stuck to disciplined lines and lengths, never letting the batters settle.

In reply, the hosts had a rocky start as debutant Salman Mirza made an immediate impact with the ball, removing both openers and sending early jitters through the Bangladesh camp.

At 7 for 2 in just 2.2 overs, the chase looked anything but straightforward. However, the tide quickly turned thanks to a composed and calculated partnership between Parvez Hossain Emon and Towhid Hridoy.

The pair steadied the innings with a crucial 73-run stand that broke Pakistan’s early grip on the contest. Hridoy played a steady hand, scoring 36 from 37 balls before falling to Abbas Afridi with the score at 80 for 3 in the 13th over. By then, the bulk of the work had been done.

Emon, showing maturity beyond his years, remained unbeaten on 56 and guided the side home without any further hiccups. His confident strokeplay and ability to rotate the strike ensured the pressure never returned.

The comprehensive nature of the chase underlined Bangladesh’s control over the match after the early stutter, handing them a morale-boosting win to open the series.

Teams

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris (WK), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Agha(C), Mohammad Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi, Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal

Bangladesh: Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das (C/WK), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman