Bangladesh smash Pakistan - again

Bangladesh’s Sabbir Rahman, center, plays a shot, as Pakistan's wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, right, watches during their Twenty20 international cricket match in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday, April 24, 2015. (AP Photo/ A.M. Ahad)

Bangladesh’s Sabbir Rahman, center, plays a shot, as Pakistan's wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, right, watches during their Twenty20 international cricket match in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Friday, April 24, 2015. (AP Photo/ A.M. Ahad)

Published Apr 24, 2015

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Dhaka - Shakib Al Hasan's fine all-round showing powered Bangladesh to a seven-wicket victory over Pakistan on Friday, their first Twenty20 international win over their Asian rivals.

Bangladesh, who also swept the three-match one-day international series, lost three quick wickets but chased down a 142-run target with 22 balls to spare, fired by an unbeaten 105-run stand between Shakib (57) and Sabbir Rahman (51).

Left-arm spinner Shakib was also miserly with the ball and gave away just 17 runs in his four overs as Pakistan posted 141-5 after Shahid Afridi won the toss and chose to bat.

Debutant left-arm paceman Mustafizur Rahman, 19, was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers, picking up 2-20 in his four overs.

Mukhtar Ahmed (37), making a debut for Pakistan, and Ahmed Shehzad (17) added 50 in nine overs but the visitors failed to build on that strong platform.

Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim - the batting heroes for Bangladesh during the 3-0 ODI series win - all fell cheaply and it was left to Shakib and Sabbir to prop up their team after being reduced to 38-3.

The duo ensured the hosts maintained their winning streak with their first win in the shortest format of the game in eight matches against Pakistan.

Reuters

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