Hassan Ali's 5-wicket haul sinks Bangladesh to 37-run defeat in first T20i

Hassan Ali's 5-wicket haul and Salman Agha's fifty helped Pakistan to defeat Bangladesh by 37 runs in the first T20I at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan posted a formidable total of 201 runs for the loss of seven wickets.

While chasing the target, the hosts could not sustain the pressure and were all out at 164 in 19.2 overs.  

Skipper Litton Das’s valiant 48-run effort went in vain.

Zakir Ali scored 36 runs, while Tanzid Hasan made 31 before falling to Hasan Ali.

Towhid Hridoy contributed 17 runs, and Rishad Hossain was dismissed for just 4 runs by Shadab Khan.

For Pakistan, Hasan Ali was the standout performer with five wickets.

Shadab Khan took two, while Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha, and Faheem Ashraf picked up one wicket each.

The win gives the home team a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Allrounder Shadab Khan, who also struck a quick 48, then dismissed rival skipper Litton Das for a 30-ball 48 to break a fighting 63-run stand for the third wicket that lifted Bangladesh from 37-2.

Litton hit three sixes and a boundary and had steadied the innings with Towhid Hridoy, who scored 17, but the later batters could not capitalise on the platform.

Pacer Hasan ended Jaker Ali's knock of 36 (21 balls with three sixes and a boundary), Tanzim Hasan for one, and Shoriful Islam for five to cap a successful return to international cricket after a year-long injury lay-off.

Earlier, leading from the front, Pakistan’s T20I captain Agha Salman played a composed innings of 56 runs.

He was well-supported by vice-captain Shadab Khan, who contributed a valuable 48 runs.

The standout performance, however, came from rising star Hasan Nawaz, who smashed an explosive 44 runs off just 22 balls, electrifying the crowd. Mohammad Haris also chipped in with a useful 31-run knock before being dismissed.

Pakistan’s innings saw early setbacks as Fakhar Zaman was dismissed for just one run and Saim Ayub departed without scoring, but the middle order staged a strong recovery.

Bangladesh’s bowling unit had a mixed outing, managing to take wickets at intervals but failing to contain the scoring rate.

Mehidy Hasan, Shariful Islam, Rishad Hossain, and Hasan Mahmud each claimed one wicket apiece.

Playing XIs 

Pakistan: Salman Agha (captain), Mohammad Haris, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Abrar Ahmed

 Bangladesh: Litton Das (captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam

Umpires: Asif Yaqoob (PAK) and Rashid Riaz (PAK)

Tv umpire: Ahsan Raza (PAK)

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)