MIRPUR: Bangladesh finally broke their jinx against Pakistan by securing a 79-run in the first ODI in Mirpur on Friday.
This victory was Bangladesh’s first over Pakistan in any format since 1999 and it snapped their 25-match losing streak in ODIs. When Shakib Al Hasan took the final wicket of Saeed Ajmal (0), the capacity crowd at Mirpur cheered deliriously.
For Pakistan, it was not a good start for Azhar Ali in his captaincy. Nothing clicked for them right from the start when Tamim Iqbal (132) and Mushfiqur Rahim (106) put on a record 178-run stand to boost Bangladesh to 329, their highest score in ODIs.
Chasing 330, Pakistan were put under pressure when they lost Sarfraz Ahmed (24) and Mohammad Hafeez (4) cheaply.
The batting never gained momentum despite Azhar and Haris Sohail batting confidently.
Azhar, who was playing in his first ODI after two years, played the Bangladesh bowlers with confidence and notched up his fifth fifty.
The 89-run stand was broken when Taskin Ahmed got some extra bounce and Azhar could only fend it to the keeper to depart for 72. The bowler struck again when Sohail (51) miscued the pull shot and Mahmudullah took a smart catch running back.
Earlier, the exploits of Tamim and Mushfiqur helped Bangladesh put on a massive score. Soumya Sarkar and Tamim put on a 48-run opening stand while Mahmudullah, the hero of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup for Bangladesh with 365 runs at an average of 73, struggled during his stay at the crease and was bowled by Rahat Ali for 5.
The arrival of Mushfiqur changed the match for the home side. He batted with confidence and it rubbed off on Tamim. Along the way, the left-hander survived a couple of chances. He survived one on 47 when Saad Nasim, also on debut, dropped him on 47. The legspinner bowled a full toss and Tamim chipped it back to the bowler who spilled the chance.
Bangladesh got going in the 28th over bowled by Haris Sohail. Tamim smashed two sixes and the bowler conceded 17 runs giving Bangladesh the platform for an assault.
The absence of a fifth bowler in the Pakistan team was hurting them and Bangladesh capitalised. With the bowling woes mounting, the fielding also fell apart.
Tamim survived yet another chance on 71 when Junaid dropped a simple catch off Azhar Ali at cover.
The second dropped chance deflated Pakistan’s morale and they lost their way towards the end. (Agencies)
