Bangladesh, 12 March (Sports Desk)
In a dominant performance at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (Mirpur), Dhaka, Bangladesh crushed Pakistan by 8 wickets in the opening match of the three-match ODI series (Dutch-Bangla Bank ODI Series 2026). This victory gave Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the series.
Match Summary
- Toss: Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field first.
- Pakistan Innings: 114 all out in 30.4 overs (lowest ODI total against Bangladesh, surpassing their previous low of 161 in 1999).
- Bangladesh Innings: 115/2 in 15.1 overs (with 209 balls remaining – one of Pakistan’s heaviest defeats by balls remaining).
- Result: Bangladesh won by 8 wickets.
Key Performances
Pakistan Batting:
- Top scorer: Faheem Ashraf – 37 runs.
- Other notable: Sahibzada Farhan – 27 runs (part of a new-look top order with four ODI debutants: Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Shamyl Hussain, and Abdul Samad).
- Pakistan collapsed dramatically after a steady start, losing wickets in clusters.
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Bangladesh Bowling:
- Nahid Rana (23-year-old pacer): 5/24 in 7 overs – his maiden ODI five-wicket haul. He ripped through Pakistan’s top order, dismissing the first five batters (a historic first for a Bangladeshi bowler in ODIs). His spell included sharp pace (up to 148 kph) and devastating accuracy, changing the game completely after coming on in the 10th over.
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Captain): 3/29 – effective off-spin support.
- Other contributions: Taskin Ahmed opened the attack effectively.
Bangladesh Batting:
- Tanzid Hasan: Unbeaten half-century (counter-attacking knock, key in the chase).
- Litton Das: Unbeaten on a low score (supported the finish).
- Early loss: Saif Hassan (4 runs).
- The chase was clinical and rapid, completed in just 15.1 overs.
