Bangladesh Dominate Pakistan in 1st T20I with 7-Wicket Win

The Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur was alive with excitement on July 20, 2025, as Bangladesh welcomed Pakistan for the first T20 of a three-match series. Bangladesh captain Litton Das called the toss right and chose to bowl, a decision that proved spot-on given the state of the pitch. Pakistan’s batting lineup, packed with flair and firepower, crumbled under the pressure, scraping together just 110 all out in 19.3 overs. Bangladesh’s tight bowling, Pakistan’s poor shot choices, and three sloppy run-outs turned what could have been a competitive innings into a tale of missed chances.

Pakistan Collapses to Just 110 Runs

Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub walked out to open, tasked with giving Pakistan a solid start. Saim, brimming with confidence, got off the mark with a crisp boundary through cover off Taskin Ahmed in the second over, racing to 6 off 4 balls. But his boldness cost him. Trying to loft another drive over the infield, he mistimed it, sending an easy catch to Mustafizur Rahman at mid-off. The early wicket brought Mohammad Haris to the crease, a player known for tearing into attacks from the get-go.

Dutch-Bangla Bank Bangladesh 🆚 Pakistan T20I Series 2025 | 1st T20I 🏏

Pakistan have already lost 5 wickets, and feeling the pressure.#BANvPAK #BCB #TigersOnTheHunt #BDCricket #HomeSeries #LiveCricket pic.twitter.com/xQQJp9IiUd

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) July 20, 2025

Haris didn’t disappoint at first, smashing a boundary off Mahedi Hasan’s spin, but his cameo was brief. Misjudging a delivery, he was caught by Shamim Hossain at point for 4, leaving Pakistan at 32 for 2 after three overs and already in trouble. Fakhar Zaman, the veteran opener, dug in to steady the ship during the powerplay, which produced 41 runs but cost four wickets. Captain Salman Agha joined him but looked uncomfortable on the unpredictable pitch. Facing nine balls, he managed just 3 runs before nicking a rising delivery from Tanzim Hasan Sakib to Litton Das behind the stumps.

Hasan Nawaz, a young gun with big hopes riding on him, lasted only two balls, edging Mustafizur Rahman to Rishad Hossain in the slips for a duck. At 41 for 4 in the sixth over, Pakistan’s innings was falling apart. Mohammad Nawaz came in to partner Fakhar, hoping to rebuild, but their time together was cut short by a dreadful mix-up. In the eighth over, Litton Das pounced on a wayward throw to run out Nawaz for 3, leaving Pakistan at 46 for 5. Fakhar, though, refused to go quietly.

His 44 off 34 balls was a gritty knock, packed with six fours and a huge six over midwicket that had the crowd buzzing. A clean cover drive off Taskin showed his quality, but his fight ended in the 12th over when Taskin’s direct hit caught him short on a risky single. At 77 for 6, Pakistan’s chances of a decent total were slipping away. Khushdil Shah and Abbas Afridi gave the fans something to cheer about, putting on 33 runs for the seventh wicket. Khushdil, usually a free-flowing batter, played with restraint, scoring 17 off 23 balls with a four and a six.

Abbas brought some late spark, hammering 22 off 24 balls with three sixes that briefly lifted Pakistan’s hopes. Their stand pushed the score past 100 in the 16th over, a milestone that had looked out of reach earlier. But Mustafizur, Bangladesh’s bowling star, struck again, deceiving Khushdil with a slower ball that Rishad Hossain snapped up at cover. The tail didn’t last long. Faheem Ashraf scratched out 5 before skying one to Mahedi Hasan, and debutant Salman Mirza was run out for a duck in another fielding blunder.

Dutch-Bangla Bank Bangladesh 🆚 Pakistan T20I Series 2025 | 1st T20I 🏏

Innings Break | Bangladesh Need 111 Runs to Win

LIVE SCORE LINK 👉: https://t.co/5O7los5ZWL#BCB #Cricket #BANvPAK #BDCricket #LiveCricket #Bangladesh #HomeSeries pic.twitter.com/S1kzomUsQl

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) July 20, 2025

Taskin Ahmed wrapped things up in the 20th over, dismissing Abbas Afridi, caught by Litton Das, as Pakistan folded for 110. Bangladesh’s bowlers were on fire. Mustafizur Rahman was the pick, giving away just 6 runs in his four overs while grabbing 2 wickets. Taskin Ahmed was just as lethal, taking 3 wickets for 22 runs in 3.3 overs, while Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Mahedi Hasan each chipped in with a wicket.

A Dominant Chase Led by Emon

Chasing 111 to take a 1-0 lead in the series, Bangladesh went about their business with confidence, wrapping up the game in just 15.3 overs with seven wickets to spare. Parvez Hossain Emon was the star of the show, his unbeaten 56 off 39 balls a brilliant mix of caution and aggression that earned him the Player of the Match award. The chase didn’t start smoothly. Opener Tanzid Hasan fell for 1 in the first over, caught by Fakhar Zaman off debutant Salman Mirza, who got the ball to jag off the pitch.

Dutch-Bangla Bank Bangladesh 🆚 Pakistan T20I Series 2025 | 1st T20I 🏏
Half-century of class from Parvez Hossain Emon! 🔥🏏
He kept the scoreboard ticking and the crowd roaring.#BCB #Cricket #BANvPAK #BDCricket #LiveCricket #Bangladesh #HomeSeries pic.twitter.com/TCIwaBVZCw

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) July 20, 2025

Captain Litton Das, expected to lead by example, joined Emon but couldn’t get going. After facing seven balls for just 1 run, he nicked a rising delivery from Mirza to Khushdil Shah at slip in the third over. At 7 for 2, Pakistan saw a glimmer of hope, but Emon and Towhid Hridoy slammed that door shut with a game-changing 73-run stand for the third wicket. Emon was the heartbeat of the chase, playing with a maturity that belied his years. He had a nervy moment in the 15th over when a DRS call went his way, keeping him at the crease, and he made Pakistan pay.

His 56 not out included three fours and five sixes, with a lofted six off Abrar Ahmed’s spin and a cracking cover drive off Faheem Ashraf, lighting up the ground. Emon’s knack for picking gaps and keeping the scoreboard ticking kept Bangladesh well ahead of the required run rate, even as the pitch kept batters guessing. Towhid Hridoy played the perfect foil, scoring 36 off 37 balls with two fours and two sixes. Their partnership took off in the middle overs, with Bangladesh hitting 50 in the eighth over.

Hridoy took a liking to Faheem Ashraf, smashing a six and a four in the ninth over, while Emon went after Saim Ayub’s part-time spin, lofting him for a six over long-on. Their 50-run stand came up in just 36 balls, blending smart running with well-timed shots. By the time Abbas Afridi got Hridoy in the 13th over, bowling him with a sharp in-swinger, Bangladesh needed just 31 runs off 45 balls, and the game was in the bag.

Jaker Ali joined Emon to see things through, scoring an unbeaten 15 off 10 balls with three fours. His quick cameo made sure there were no late dramas, and Bangladesh sealed the win in the 16th over when Emon cracked a boundary off Salman Mirza. The powerplay had given them 38 runs but cost two wickets, setting the stage for Emon and Hridoy to take over. Emon’s fifty, reached off 34 balls, was the backbone of the chase, earning him praise for his composure on a tough pitch.

A clinical chase! 💥
Bangladesh sealed the victory by 7 wickets and took the lead in the series! 🇧🇩🏏

Dutch-Bangla Bank Bangladesh 🆚 Pakistan T20I Series 2025 | 1st T20I 🏏#BCB #Cricket #BANvPAK #BDCricket #LiveCricket #Bangladesh #HomeSeries pic.twitter.com/fbvI0ugH5u

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) July 20, 2025

Pakistan’s bowlers couldn’t keep the pressure on after the early wickets. Salman Mirza was the standout, taking 2 wickets for 23 runs, but the rest of the attack lacked bite. Abrar Ahmed bowled neatly, giving away 20 runs in four overs but failing to take a wicket. Faheem Ashraf and Saim Ayub were pricey, leaking runs at over 8 an over, while Mohammad Nawaz and Abbas Afridi couldn’t turn things around. Pakistan’s fielding was decent but not enough to defend such a low total, as Bangladesh’s batters found gaps with ease. The win gave Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the series, building on their recent success against Sri Lanka.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Pakistan’s innings was a tough watch, but the moment that defined it, TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game, was the trio of run-outs that sank their hopes. Finishing at 110 in 19.3 overs with a run rate of 5.64, Pakistan leaned heavily on Fakhar Zaman’s 44 off 34 balls, packed with six fours and a six at a strike rate of 129.41. His run-out in the 12th over, thanks to Taskin Ahmed’s pinpoint throw, sparked a collapse.

Dutch-Bangla Bank Bangladesh 🆚 Pakistan T20I Series 2025 | 1st T20I 🏏
The battle is on — every ball, every moment, the Tigers keep pushing. 🐯🏏#BCB #Cricket #BANvPAK#BDCricket #Bangladesh #HomeSeries pic.twitter.com/EkIwSXYAVs

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) July 20, 2025

Saim Ayub (6 off 4) and Mohammad Haris (4 off 3) fell early, while captain Salman Agha’s sluggish 3 off 9 added to the woes. Hasan Nawaz (0) and Mohammad Nawaz (3) went cheaply, the latter run out by Litton Das’s quick work. Khushdil Shah (17) and Abbas Afridi (22, with three sixes) showed some fight, but debutant Salman Mirza’s run-out for a duck sealed Pakistan’s fate. Taskin Ahmed’s 3 for 22 and Mustafizur Rahman’s 2 for 6 highlighted Bangladesh’s grip on the game.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Parvez Hossain Emon was TCNI’s Hero of the Day for his match-winning 56 not out off 39 balls, steering Bangladesh to a seven-wicket victory. Chasing 111, Bangladesh cruised to 112 for 3 in 15.3 overs at a run rate of 7.22. Emon’s knock, with three fours and five sixes at a strike rate of 143.58, was the heart of the chase.

Parvez Hossain Emon lights up the innings with a stylish 50! 🔥📽️
Watch how he built it — shot by shot.
Dutch-Bangla Bank Bangladesh 🆚 Pakistan T20I Series 2025 | 1st T20I 🏏#BCB #Cricket #BANvPAK#BDCricket #LiveCricket #Bangladesh #HomeSeries pic.twitter.com/Ehe1A4ch0c

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) July 20, 2025

Despite early losses of Tanzid Hasan (1) and Litton Das (1) to Salman Mirza, Emon’s 73-run stand with Towhid Hridoy (36 off 37) turned the tide. After Hridoy fell to Abbas Afridi, Emon and Jaker Ali (15 not out off 10) finished the job with 27 balls to spare, cementing Emon’s place as the game’s hero.