Hasan Ali took 5 wickets for just 30 runs to lead Pakistan to a strong 37-run win over Bangladesh. His brilliant bowling performance helped Pakistan defend their total and secure a much-needed victory in the thrilling match.
Pakistan Start T20 Series with a Strong Victory
Pakistan won the first match of their three-game T20 series against Bangladesh by 37 runs. The game was held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday. This win gave Pakistan a great start to the series.
Hasan Ali Shines in His Comeback Match
Fast bowler Hasan Ali was the star of the game. He took 5 wickets for 30 runs, helping Pakistan bowl out Bangladesh for 164 in the last over of the match. It was Hasan’s first match for Pakistan in a year after dealing with injuries.
His strong comeback impressed everyone. He had already shown good form in the Pakistan Super League and proved it again on the international stage.
“I’ve seen him work so hard, and today all that hard work paid off,” said Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha.
Pakistan Fight Back After Poor Start with the Bat
Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first. But they had a rough start, losing 2 wickets for just 5 runs within the first 8 balls.
Captain Salman Agha and Mohammad Haris helped Pakistan recover with a 51-run partnership. Salman Agha scored the highest runs for Pakistan with 56 off just 24 balls, including eight boundaries and a six.
Hasan Nawaz then took charge, smashing 44 off 22 balls. He added 65 runs with Salman, which became the biggest partnership of the innings. Later, Shadab Khan hit 48 off 25 balls to take Pakistan to a strong total of 201-7.
Bangladesh’s Shoriful Islam was their best bowler, taking 2 wickets.
Bangladesh Start Well, But Collapse Under Pressure
Bangladesh started their chase well and reached 100-2. Their captain Litton Das and Tawhid Hridoy shared a strong 63-run partnership for the third wicket, giving their team hope.
But once Litton was dismissed, Bangladesh started losing wickets quickly. Hasan Ali kept attacking and broke through their batting order. Shadab Khan also played a key role with the ball, taking 2 wickets for just 26 runs.
Shadab Khan was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance—scoring 48 runs and taking 2 wickets.
What the Captains Said
Pakistan Captain Salman Agha praised his team:
“Everyone contributed today. That’s how we want to play—batting, bowling, and fielding as a team.”
Bangladesh Captain Litton Das admitted his team struggled:
“We didn’t bat, bowl, or field well. We need to be more consistent. There are two more games, and we must come back stronger.”
What’s Next?
All three matches in the series are being played in Lahore. The second match will be on Friday, and the final one on Sunday.
Pakistan now lead the series 1-0. Bangladesh will need to improve in all departments if they hope to bounce back.
