Bangladesh ends 9-year drought with T20 victory over Pakistan

After a long wait of nine years, Bangladesh has finally defeated Pakistan once again in T20 cricket. On Sunday, July 20, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, the Tigers secured a comfortable seven-wicket win thanks to outstanding bowling performances by Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, followed by a brilliant innings from Parvez Hossain Emon. With this victory, Bangladesh takes a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Batting first, Pakistan were bowled out for just 110 runs in 19.3 overs. Opener Fakhar Zaman was the top scorer with 44 runs, while Abbas Afridi contributed 22. For Bangladesh, pacer Taskin Ahmed picked up 3 wickets for 22 runs in 3.3 overs. Mustafizur Rahman delivered one of the best bowling performances in Bangladesh’s T20 history, conceding only 6 runs in 4 overs and taking 2 wickets.

Chasing a modest target of 111, Bangladesh got off to a shaky start. In the very first over, Tanzid Hasan Tamim was dismissed for 1, followed shortly by captain Liton Das, who also fell for 1. At 7 for 2 in 2.2 overs, the Tigers were in early trouble.

However, Towhid Hridoy and Parvez Hossain Emon steadied the innings with a crucial 73-run partnership off 62 balls. Hridoy was dismissed for 36 runs off 37 balls, but Emon remained firm at the crease.

In the final phase of the innings, Parvez Hossain Emon, along with Jaker Ali Anik, guided the team to victory. Emon played a match-winning knock of 56 runs off 39 balls, which included 3 fours and 5 sixes. Bangladesh clinched the win with 28 balls to spare and 7 wickets in hand.

It’s worth noting that Bangladesh last defeated Pakistan in a T20 match during the 2016 Asia Cup, also held in Mirpur, where they won by 5 wickets. With this victory, the Tigers have revived those memories and ended a nine-year T20 drought against Pakistan.