Pakistan v Bangladesh: Only T20 - 1st Innings report
The Shakib Al Hasan-led Bangladeshi spin attack restricted Pakistan to 135 for 7 in the one-off T20 International of the tour, played at the Shere Bangla Stadium of Mirpur, on November 29, 2011.
After the Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and opted to bat first, the visitors went off to a quick start with the opener Imran Farhat hitting the Bengali spinners for some back to back boundaries before being caught behind
by Mushfiqur Rahim, off Shakib Al Hasan.
Imran Farhat opened up his account hitting Shafiul Islam for a four on the second ball of the day. During his 10 ball stay at the crease, Farhat looted the Bengali spinner for three boundaries. After Farhat’s departure, his opening
partner Mohammad Hafeez tried to preserve the pace of game hitting the Bangladesh slow bowlers for two boundaries and a lofty six.
Shakib struck back in the 9th over and bowled out the well settled Hafeez with a straighter one. The experienced opener scored 25 runs off 31 deliveries.
As long as the openers were at the crease, it seemed Pakistan would gather an imposing total, but the visiting batsmen started struggling once the home attack, featuring five spinners, started operating at both the ends of a traditional
dark Dhaka pitch.
Hafeez’ departure took Umar Akmal to the crease and the hard hitting middle-order batsman looked quite comfortable against Bengali pacers, looting Rubel Hossain for consecutive boundaries. Akmal’s belligerence was short lived as
he was perished while trying to plunder Alok Kapali.
Asad Shafique was the next man to leave after being caught by Abdur Razzak at deep, off Nasir Hossain in the 14th over. Shoaib Malik once again failed to impress and could add only two runs to Pakistan’s total before being
caught and bowled by ace Bangladesh spinner Abdur Razzak.
Shahid Afridi opened his account with a muscular six off Razzak’s lose delivery but Alok Kapali did not let the Boom Boom free up, and sent him back to the pavilion in the next over after having him caught by Nasir Hossain at deep
to leave the hosts 112 for 6.
After that, Pakistan's skipper kept the score card ticking as the Men in Green finished their 20 overs quota at 135 for 7.
Shakib Al Hasan and Alok Kapali claimed two wickets each, while Abdur Razzaka and Nasir Hossain shared one wicket apiece.
Squads:
Pakistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Aizaz Cheema
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Imrul Kayes, Naeem Islam, Alok Kapali, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Nasir, Hossain Farhad Reza, Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain, Shafiul Islam