Bangladesh post 127-7 against Pakistan in first T20

Bangladesh batsman Afif Hossain plays a shot during their first T20 international match against Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on Friday. — AFP photo

Sports desk: : Mahedi Hasan’s late flurry after Afif Hossain’s 36 off 34 balls and Nurul Hasan’s 28 off 22 balls helped Bangladesh post a humble 127-7  in their 20 overs against Pakistan in the first Twenty20 of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Friday.

Mahedi remained unbeaten 30 off 20 balls in an innings where only three Bangladesh batters got into double figures.

Hasan Ali led the Pakistan attack and finished with 3-22 and Mohammad Wasim Jr took 2-24.

Batting first, Bangladesh lost openers Mohammad Naim and debutant Saif Hassan for one each.

The returning Nazmul Hossain Shanto also top-edged an attempted a slog and the bowler Wasim took a good high catch to dismiss him for seven, leaving the Tigers stuttering at 3-15 inside five overs.

Skipper Mahmudullah (six) was then bowled by Mohammad Nawaz with a brilliant delivery which kissed the bails to dismiss him.

Bangladesh was at 40-4 at the halfway stage when Afif tried to give the innings a move by smashing Nawaz for consecutive sixes in the 11th over.

But his innings ended when he missed a Shadab Khan delivery and got stumped in the 13th over.

Nurul tried to cut loose with Mahedi at the other end as he also struck two sixes but departed off Hasan in the 17th over.

Mahedi then took over the reign and remained unbeaten with Taskin Ahmed (eight not out), who hit a six off the last ball of the 20th over from Haris Rauf to finish the innings in style.