Bangladesh bagged a comfortable 79-run victory against Pakistan in the first One Day International of a three-match series in Dhaka on Friday, 16 years after they beat the same opponent in 1999 World Cup. Batting first at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Bangladesh scored 329 runs for 6 wickets with two centuries from opener Tamim Iqbal and middle order batsman Mishfiqur Rahim, first ever for the country in any ODI match. In reply, Pakistan were all out in 45.2 overs scoring 250 runs. Openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar gave Bangladesh a solid start putting 48 runs on the scoreboard in 13.2 overs after skipper Shakib Al Hasan, who led the Tigers in the match in absence of Mashrafe Mortaza, won the toss and chose to bat first. Sarkar was unfortunate to be run out in the second delivery of 14th over. He added 20 runs off 36 balls hitting 3 fours. Then Mahmudullah (5) was bowled by Rahat Ali in the last delivery of 20th over. Tamim survived for a drop by the bowler in the 2nd deliver of Saad Nasim of 23rd over. The 26-year left hand batsman reached his century off 112 balls with a boundary in the 5th delivery of 35th over by Ajmal. He smashed 12 fours and 2 sixes. Earlier, Tamim reached his half-century off 75 balls with 6 fours. Tamim also made a record 178-run 3rd wicket partnership with Mishifiqur Rahim, highest for Bangladesh in any wicket. The opener was eventually caught by Rizwan off Wahab Riaz in the 4th delivery of 42nd over. He scored 132 runs off 135 balls with 15 fours and 3 sixes. Mushifiqur, who survived at 35 for a drop by Junaid Khan on the 3rd delivery of 29th over by Azhar Ali, reached his century with a boundary in the 4th delivery of 45th over by Saeed Ajmal. He played only 69 balls hitting 13 fours and 2 sixes to complete his century. Earlier, the 26-year right hand batsman reached his fifty driving Saeed Ajmal out of the boundary in the first delivery of 35th over. He played 42 balls and hit 6 fours to complete half-century. Mushifiqur was eventually caught by Sarfraz Ahmed off Wahab Riaz in the 2nd delivery of 48th over. He scored 106 runs off 77 balls. Shakib Al Hasan added quick 31 runs off 27 balls while Sabbir Rahman 15 off 7 balls at the end. Pakistan pacer Wahab Riaz claimed 4 wickets for 59 runs. Chasing a huge 330-run target, Pakistan opener Sarfraz Ahmed (24) was caught by Nasir Hossain in the 2nd delivery of 11th over by Arafat Sunny after he made a 53-run opening stand with skipper Azhar Ali. Mohammad Hafeez (4) was run out in the 13th over as Pakistan lost second wicket for 59 runs in 12.1 overs. However, Azhar was firm and added 89 runs with Haris Sohail in the 3rd wicket partnership. Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed struck in the 28th over and made Azhar caught by Musfiqur Rahim behind the wicket. The Pakistan skipper scored 72 runs off 73 balls hitting 7 fours. Taskin sturck again and made Sohail caught a mid-on by Mahmudullah in the 32th over. Sohail scored 51 runs off 64 balls. Arafat Sunny struck twice in the 40th over and claimed the wickets of Fawad Alam (14) and Saad Nasim (0). The 28-year spinner finished his 10 overs with 3 wickets and a maiden for 47 runs. Then Rubel Hossain erased Mohammad Rizwan who scored 67 runs off 58 balls hitting 8 boundaries. Taskin bagged 3 wickets for 42 runs in 8 overs to make the win easy. The other two ODIs will be played at the same venue on 19 and 22 April. During the month-long tour, Pakistan will also play a T20 and two Tests against Bangladesh.
