Pakistan survived a scare before holing on their nerve to beat Bangladesh by four wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chasing 128 for the win, Pakistan were in a spot of bother at 24\/4 inside the Powerplay. Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah steadied the ship with a 56-run stand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite a valiant effort from the Bangladesh bowlers, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz eventually finished the game off in style with a stunning 36-run partnership off just 15 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were back in the dugout with just 22 runs on the board, Babar made only 7 while Rizwan scored 11. Things turned to worse when Haider Ali and Shoaib Malik were both out for zero as Pakistan slumped to 24\/4. But Fakhar Zaman (34) and Khushdil Shah (34) rescued them before Shadab (21 not out) and Nawaz (18 not out) saw them through to victory.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, Bangladesh too struggled but Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan, and Mahedi Hasan helped them post a respectable total of 127\/7 on the board.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah won the toss and elected to bat but the decision backfired as they lost Mohammad Naim on the first ball of the second over as he chased a wide one from Hasan Ali and nicked on behind to Mohammad Rizwan. Naim went for just one run with three runs on the board. That became 10\/2 when Mohammad Wasim ended debutant Saif Hassan's miserable stay at the wicket with one that moved off the seam, Fakar Zaman pouching the edge at first slip.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The hosts lost their third wicket with 15 runs on the board when Najmul Hossain Shanto (7) tried to give himself room against Mohammed Wasim but ended up playing a cross-batted shot, managing to scoop up a dolly for the bowler to pouch it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Skipper Mahmudullah was bowled by Mohammad Nawaz for six as Bangladesh batsmen continued to struggle against a bowling attack that used the conditions well. They were also guilty of playing reckless shots as they continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hossain top-scored for Bangladesh with 36 before he was stumped by Rizwan off Shadab Khan and when Hasan Ali claimed his second victim in the form of Nurul Hasan (28 off 2 balls, 2x6), who will be keeping the wickets in the absence of Mushfiqur Rahim, the hosts were down to 96\/6 in the 17th over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mahedi Hasan struck two sixes and a four in his unbeaten 30 off 20 deliveries as Bangladesh managed to reach 127\/7 in their allotted overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Hasan Ali was the most successful of the Pakistan bowlers with 3-22 while Mohammad Wasim claimed 2-24 as Pakistan set themselves up for an easy chase.<\/p>\r\n\r\n