The pattern is crystal clear now. Get rid of Pakistan's top-order and they will find it hard on most occasions to make a comeback. However, Mohammad Rizwan's purple patch has been the reason for Pakistan's most wins in the last two years despite the criticism surrounding his strike rate. On October 7, in the first T20I of the Tri-Series in New Zealand, Rizwan's unbeaten 78 followed by clinical bowling effort helped Pakistan beat Nurul Hasan-led Bangladesh by 21 runs.
After winning the toss, Nurul opted to field first at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. Babar Azam's inconsistent run continued as he struggled to rotate the strike in the powerplay overs. Pakistan got off to a decent start with 43 runs in the powerplay overs. In the eighth over, Mehidy Hasan Miraz ended Babar's stay at the crease as he went for a sweep shot and the top edge carried to Mustafizur Rahman. Babar scored 22 runs from 25 deliveries including four boundaries in the 52-run opening partnership.
Shan Masood took his time at the start. By the halfway stage, Pakistan had 71/1 on the board. Masood took the most of strike and accelerated but his knock came to an end in the 13th over. Nasum Ahmed got his wicket. The southpaw scored 31 runs from 22 deliveries including four fours and one six.
Haider Ali came to the crease and hit a boundary off the third ball but lost his wicket to Taskin Ahmed in the 15th over. Off the next ball, Rizwan got to his half-century from 38 deliveries. Iftikhar Ahmed hit a few boundaries in his 13-run knock but got out in the 18th over to Hasan Mahmud. In the penultimate over, Rizwan started off with a six but Pakistan's designated finisher Asif Ali got out without making an impact.
In the final over, 13 runs were scored including a four from Rizwan and a six off Mohammad Nawaz's bat. The wicketkeeper-batter carried his bat. He scored 78 runs from 50 deliveries including seven fours and two sixes.
In the run chase, Bangladesh continued with their strategy to open with Mehidy. The move did not work as he was dismissed by Mohammad Wasim Jr in the fifth over. He scored 10 runs from 11 deliveries. On the other end, Sabbir Rahman struggled to rotate the strike and got caught and bowled by Haris Rauf. Rahman used up 18 deliveries and scored just 14 runs in the powerplay overs. After six overs, Bangladesh had 38/2 on the board with required run rate nearing 10 runs per over.
Litton Das and Afif Hossain trying to string a partnership together before they could accelerate. Das batted well and helped Bangladesh post 74/2 at the halfway stage. The partnership showed promise by Mohammad Nawaz struck in his last over to dismiss Das. The Bangladesh batter scored 35 runs from 26 deliveries including four fours and one six. In the very next delivery, Mosaddek Hossain got out for a golden duck.
In the next over Shahnawaz Dahani was brought back into the attack and he delivered with the wicket of Afif. The southpaw had scored 25 runs from 23 deliveries. Shadab Khan struck in his last over as well with the wicket of Nurul (8). In the 18th over, yasir Ali hit a four and six off Dahani but Bangladesh left too many runs for the end. In the penultimate over, Wasim Jr got Taskin's wicket followed by Nasum. The last over was all but formality. Yasir took on Rauf and hit him for three fours and a six. He remained unbeaten for 42 off 21 deliveries including five fours and two sixes. Bangladesh posted 146/8, falling short of the target by 22 runs.
