Hasan Ali’s impressive bowling performance helped Pakistan win the first T20I against Bangladesh, taking his maiden five-for in T20I

Karachi, by (Zeeshan Hussain) Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 37 runs in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Hasan Ali bagged his career-best T20I figures, propelling Pakistan to a successful defense of their 201-run total. Hasan Ali took 5 wickets for 30 runs, registering his maiden five-for in T20Is. He set the tone for the successful defense by drawing the first blood in the second over. Tanzid Hasan fought back with a flurry of boundaries but Hasan castled him at the end of the fourth over.Litton Das top-scored for Bangladesh with a 30-ball 48, inclusive of one four and three sixes. He stitched a 63-run stand with Towhid Hridoy, steering Bangladesh to 75-2 at the halfway mark. However, Shadab Khan struck in the 12th over to break the partnership. Bangladesh’s batting lineup struggled after the partnership was broken. They lost their last seven wickets for a mere 64 runs in the last 7.2 overs. Hasan Ali removed Shoriful Islam in the 20th over to complete his five-for. Shadab Khan returned figures of 4-0-26-2, while Khushdil, Salman, and Faheem picked up one wicket each. Bangladesh was dismissed for 164 runs in 19.2 overs. Earlier, Pakistan had romped to 201-7 in 20 overs, courtesy of a fighting half-century from skipper Salman Ali. Hasan Nawaz and Shadab Khan also chipped in with blazing forties. Salman Ali joined forces with Mohammad Haris to raise a 31-ball 48 for the third wicket. After Haris’ departure, Hasan Nawaz walked in to bat at No. 5, while Salman brought up his third T20I half-century. Hasan Nawaz’s 22-ball stay at the crease came to a halt as Rishad dismissed him for 44. Shadab Khan hit a brisk 25-ball 48 at No. 6, striking five fours and three sixes. Faheem Ashraf contributed unbeaten 11 off six balls, hitting a solitary six to a fiery 50-run seventh-wicket stand with Shadab off only 22 balls. For Bangladesh, Shoriful Islam returned figures of 2-32, while all other bowlers dismissed one batter each.