Rizwan’s dream run continues as Pakistan beat Bangladesh

Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman Mohammed Rizwan slammed an unbeaten 78 and carried his bat throughout the innings as Pakistan started their campaign in the tri-series in New Zealand on a winning note with a 21-run win against Bangladesh at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Friday.
 
Rizwan’s scintillating 78* off 50 balls with seven fours and two sixes, along with some support from Shan Masood’s 31 off 22 balls, took Pakistan to 167/5 after the end of 20 overs.
 
While defending the total, pacer Mohammad Wasim Jnr and left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz took three and two wickets respectively to restrict Bangladesh to 146/8 in 20 overs.
 
After being asked to bat first, Rizwan and skipper Babar Azam added 52 runs for the first wicket in 7.1 overs but were not able to take full advantage of the batting surface as Mehidy Hasaz Miraz removed Babar off his first ball.
The No.1 T20I batter, Rizwan, who has been in brilliant form, scored his sixth half-century in the last eight T20I innings, then added 42 more runs with Shan Masood, who made 31 off 22 deliveries.
 
Pakistan’s middle-order batting continued to disappoint as Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Asif Ali couldn’t add much to the total and got out cheaply. However, Pakistan managed to score 51 runs off the last four overs to post a fighting total of 167/5 against Bangladesh, who are playing without the veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan.
 
Mohammad Wasim Jr. and Haris Rauf were too hot to handle for the Bangladesh openers in the first six overs. Wasim struck in the fifth over as he dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 10 off 11 balls. In the next over, Sabbir Rahman lost his wicket for 14 off 18 balls after a simple caught and bowled dismissal off Haris Rauf.
 
Batting at No. 3, Litton Das was dismissed by left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz after scoring 35 off 26 balls. To make things more difficult for Bangladesh, Nawaz took another wicket as Mosaddek Hossain was out LBW for a duck on the next ball in the 13th over. Afif Hossain made 25 off 23 balls while Yasir Ali top-scored for Bangladesh and remained unbeaten on 42 off 21 balls with five fours and two sixes.
 
After dismissing Taskin Ahmed and Nasum Ahmed on the first two balls of the 19th over, Wasim finished with impressive figures of 3/24 along with Nawaz, who returned with figures of 2/25. Despite Haris Rauf conceding 20 runs off the final over, where he went for three fours and a six by Yasir Ali, Bangladesh felt short by 21 runs with 146/8 at the end of 20 overs.
 
Mohammed Rizwan was awarded Player of the Match for his unbeaten 78 off 50 balls.
 
Pakistan will be playing their next match against the hosts, New Zealand, in the second match of the tri-series.
 
Pakistan 167/5 in 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 78 (50)*, Shan Masood 31 (22), Taskin Ahmed 2/25, Nasum Ahmed 1/22) beat Bangladesh 146/8 in 20 overs (Yasir Ali 42 (21)*, Litton Das 35 (26), Mohammad Wasim Jnr 3/24, Mohammad Nawaz 2/25) by 21 runs.