Bangladesh delivered a dazzling display of limited-overs cricket, chasing down 114 runs against Pakistan in just 15.1 overs, losing only a single wicket. Forget Saif Hassan’s dismissal—the real story lay in the fearless partnership between opener Tanzid Hasan and number three batsman Najmul Hossain, who transformed a 50-over chase into a thrilling T20-style assault.
As victory loomed, no additional motivation seemed necessary for Bangladesh’s batsmen. Yet one cannot help but wonder if the urgency to finish before iftar added extra impetus. In any case, their aggressive strokeplay ensured the match ended well before the evening break, delighting fans.
Tanzid and Najmul forged a second-wicket partnership of 82 runs across ten overs. Najmul struck five boundaries in 33 balls before being dismissed for 27, while Tanzid remained unbeaten on 67 from 42 deliveries, hitting five sixes and seven fours. When Najmul departed at 109 runs, Liton Das joined Tanzid at the crease, and the duo sealed the win just in time for iftar. Notably, the winning run came from a wide by Mohammad Wasim.
Bangladesh Batting Summary
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanzid Hasan | 67 | 42 | 7 | 5 | Not out |
| Najmul Hossain | 27 | 33 | 5 | 0 | Out |
| Liton Das | 14 | 7 | 2 | 1 | Not out |
The game’s pace was hinted at from the start, although Pakistan’s first nine overs yielded just 35 runs without a wicket. Bangladesh’s opening bowlers, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, struggled to break the partnership, but the tenth over introduced the “Nahid show.”
Fast bowler Nahid Rana produced a fiery spell from the 10th to 18th overs, taking five wickets in his first five overs, each over yielding a scalp. While he missed two wickets in the final two overs, television replays suggested he might have secured a sixth had reviews been taken.
Captain Mehedi Hasan Miraz also bowled impressively, claiming three wickets for 29 runs in 10 overs, while Taskin and Mustafizur each took a wicket.
Pakistan Bowling and Wickets
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nahid Rana | 7 | 28 | 5 |
| Mehedi Hasan Miraz | 10 | 29 | 3 |
| Taskin Ahmed | 5 | 20 | 1 |
| Mustafizur Rahman | 5 | 17 | 1 |
Nahid’s relentless short-pitched deliveries rattled Pakistan’s batsmen. Sahibzada Farhan fell in the last ball of the powerplay, followed by Shamil Hossain and Maz Sadakat, who were also trapped by incisive bowling. Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Aga were dismissed in quick succession, leaving Pakistan’s innings effectively over well before the 31st over.
With 114 runs chased in just over 15 overs, Bangladesh achieved their first victory over Pakistan with such a commanding margin in a 50-over match. The combination of aggressive batting and incisive bowling demonstrates a new level of confidence in Bangladesh’s white-ball cricket.