PAK vs BAN LIVE: Rishad and Taskin restrict Pakistan to 135 in the first inning

In the crucial Asia Cup knockout match, Bangladesh dominated Pakistan, limiting them to 135 for 8 on a challenging Dubai pitch. Taskin Ahmed excelled with 3 wickets, while Rishad Hossain took 2.

Rishad Hossain picked up 2 wickets for only 18 runs. Image | Asian Cricket Council

In a knockout contest at a worn Dubai pitch, Bangladesh firmly positioned themselves for a place in the Asia Cup final by restricting Pakistan to a modest total of 135 for 8. With India already qualified, Bangladesh’s well-rounded bowling attack, led by Taskin Ahmed and Rishad Hossain, applied consistent pressure that kept Pakistan’s batsmen on the back foot throughout their innings.

Great start from Bangladeshi bowlers

The innings started on a challenging note for Pakistan as Taskin Ahmed, who was rested during Bangladesh's previous match against India, made an immediate impact. In the very first over of Pakistan's chase, Taskin removed in-form batsman Sahibzada Farhan, who managed only a run-a-ball four before edging a catch to point.

The pressure continued to mount when Mahedi Hasan, returning to the squad, got Saim Ayub out cheaply, delivering his fourth duck in six Asia Cup innings.

Ayub's struggle in this tournament reflected an ongoing issue; this marked his ninth duck in 45 T20 International innings the second highest for a Pakistani batsman.

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Pakistan’s experienced opener Fakhar Zaman struggled to find rhythm during the power play, scoring just 12 off 18 balls. Attempting to accelerate, he failed to connect well and was dismissed by Rishad Hossain, caught at wide long-off for 13.

Rishad then quickly followed up by trapping Hussain Talat with an astute wrong’un in the ninth over, reducing Pakistan to 33 for 4. These early wickets swung momentum decisively toward Bangladesh and had the crowd energized.

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Pakistan’s lower order fought back

Rishad Hossain’s spell was among the highlights for Bangladesh. Apart from his two wickets, he took two sharp catches and nearly got another breakthrough when Shaheen Shah Afridi was dropped twice off his bowling in the 12th over.

Afridi, however, showed glimpses of resistance, hitting the first six of the innings in the 13th over and following it up with another six in the next. His aggressive intent was short-lived, though, as Taskin bowled him out with a perfectly executed full toss that the batsman failed to time, handing the fast bowler figures of 4-0-28-3.

Taskin has now become only the third Bangladeshi bowler, after Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman, to reach 100 wickets in T20 Internationals.

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Late flourish from Nawaz

Towards the end of the innings, Mohammad Haris and Mohammad Nawaz provided some much-needed late runs. Haris scored 31 off 23 balls, while Nawaz chipped in with 25 off just 15 deliveries.

Their partnership pushed Pakistan’s total past the 130-run mark, with an unbeaten 11 runs coming off the final over, but the score remained below par, offering Bangladesh a clear advantage heading into the second half of the game.

Pakistan vs Bangladesh: Playing XIs

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha(c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris(w), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

Bangladesh: Saif Hassan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali(w/c), Nurul Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman

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