Rana’s maiden five-for rattles Pakistan

Nahid Rana produced a sensational spell to claim his maiden five-wicket haul and rattle Pakistan’s batting lineup in the opening ODI of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Wednesday.

Playing his first ODI on home soil after featuring in his previous five matches abroad, Rana ripped through the Pakistan top order by taking the first five wickets of their innings. Skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz later removed debutant Abdul Samad (0) as Pakistan slumped to 71 for six in 20 overs after Bangladesh opted to bowl first.

Pakistan had made a steady start with a 41-run opening stand between debutants Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat before Bangladesh struck back. Rana broke the partnership by dismissing Farhan for 27 in the last ball of the first Powerplay.

Another debutant, Shamyl Hussain, who had earlier been dropped by Tanzid Hasan Tamim on two, became Rana’s second victim after scoring four. Sadaqat followed soon after, falling for 18, before Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha were also dismissed by the 23-year-old pacer for 10 and five respectively, completing his maiden five-for in ODIs.

Rana had played five ODIs previously, the last against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi in October, where he had taken five wickets in total.