Staff Reporter: Shoaib Malik helped Pakistan to win the first of three-match Twenty20 international series.
The Pakistani striker struck an unbeaten fifty as Bangladesh suffered a five-wicket defeat to hosts Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday.
Malik made 58 off 45 balls, his eighth fifty in this format, which guided Pakistan to 142-5 in 19.3 overs after their bowlers restricted Bangladesh to 141-5 in their stipulated overs.
Earlier, Mohammad Naim and Tamim Iqbal struck 43 and 39 runs respectively and put a 70-run opening stand but the remaining batsmen failed to capitalise on the solid start.
Pacer Shafiul Islam gave Bangladesh first breakthrough while defending the total when he dismissed Babar Azam for a duck in the second ball of the innings.
Mustafizur Rahman then dismissed Mohammad Hafeez after he made 17 runs but Malik then added a 46-run stand for the third wicket with debutant Ahsan Ali to steady their innings.
Leg-spinner Aminul Islam broke the partnership by dismissing Ahsan for 36 but Malik continued to play an anchor role and took Pakistan close to the victory.
Although Shafiul (2-27) and Al-Amin took two more wickets but Pakistan cruised to victory after Bangladeshi fielders failed to take two important catches in the last few overs.
Earlier, Bangladesh lost Tamim in the 11th over as he was run out after playing a dogged 34-ball innings after Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah won the toss and elected to bat first.
The Tigers lost Liton Das (12) and Naim in successive deliveries while Afif Hossain (nine) and Soumya Sarkar (seven) were dismissed cheaply while trying to accelerate the innings.
Mahmudullah and Mohammad Mithun remained unbeaten on 19 and five respectively as the visitors could make only 41 runs in last five overs.
Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan all picked up one wicket each for Pakistan.
The second Twenty20 international match will take place on Saturday at the same venue.
