Rana, Tanzid shine as Bangladesh crush Pakistan

Pacer Nahid Rana claimed his maiden fifer before Tanzid Tamim scored an unbeaten fifty as Bangladesh crushed Pakistan by eight wickets in the opening ODI of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Wednesday.

Playing his maiden ODI on home soil, Rana returned figures of 5-24 and ripped through Pakistan’s batting lineup with fiery pace as they bundled out Pakistan for just 114 runs in 30.4 overs after Bangladesh opted to field first.

It was Pakistan’s lowest total against Bangladesh in ODIs, eclipsing the previous record of 161 in Northampton during the 1999 ICC World Cup.

In reply, Bangladesh lost opener Saif Hassan (four) early off Shaheen Shah Afridi, but an 82-run stand between Tanzid and Najmul Hossain Shanto for the second wicket all but sealed the victory for Bangladesh. Shanto, however, was dismissed by Mohammad Wasim Jnr late in the game after a 33-ball 27-run knock. 

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Rana’s maiden five-for rattles Pakistan

Tanzid remained not out on 67 off 42 balls as Bangladesh reached 115 for two in 15.1 overs to help their side go 1-0 up in the series.

It was Bangladesh’s first win over Pakistan in this format since 2018, while the 209 balls remaining is the Tigers' third joint biggest win in terms of balls remaining.

Pakistan had earlier made a steady start through a 41-run opening stand between Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat -- two of the four debutants in the match -- before Rana triggered a dramatic collapse.

He broke the partnership on the final ball of the first Powerplay when Farhan (27) edged to point, where Afif Hossain took a regulatory catch.

Another debutant, Shamyl Hussain, became Rana’s second victim after top-edging a short delivery to wicketkeeper Litton Das for four. Hussain had earlier been dropped on two by Tanzid at long-on.

Sadaqat then departed for 18 before Rana dismissed Mohammad Rizwan (10) and Salman Ali Agha (5) in quick succession to complete his maiden ODI fifer and became only the second Bangladeshi bowler to take a five-wicket haul against Pakistan in this format after Mustafizur Rahman in the 2019 World Cup.

The 23-year-old had previously played five ODIs, including his last appearance against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi in October, where he had taken five wickets in total.

Skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz (3-29) then tightened Bangladesh’s grip by removing debutant Abdul Samad (0), Hussain Talat (4), and Shaheen Shah Afridi (4) in quick succession. Taskin Ahmed also dismissed Mohammad Wasim Jr (0) as Pakistan slumped to 82 for nine and looked set to be bowled out for under 100.

However, Faheem Ashraf struck 37 off 47 balls to push the total past the 100-run mark before Mustafizur Rahman dismissed him in the 31st over.

The second match of the series will be held at the same venue on Friday.