Lahore  -  Hasan Ali delivered his career-best T20I bowling performance with a fiery 5-wicket haul, while Shadab Khan shone with both bat and ball, as Pakistan thumped Bangladesh by 37 runs in a T20 International opener at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on Wednesday night.

Playing in front of a buzzing crowd, Pakistan posted a daunting 201/7 in their 20 overs after being asked to bat first. Despite early setbacks that saw both Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub dismissed cheaply inside the first two overs, the middle order responded with authority. Mohammad Haris played a quickfire cameo of 31 off 18 balls, but it was captain Salman Agha (56 off 34) and young gun Hasan Nawaz (44 off 22) who laid a strong foundation with explosive strokes all around the park.

Shadab Khan then provided the finishing touches with a brutal 25-ball 48, smashing five fours and two sixes to take Pakistan past the 200-run mark. His attacking partnership with Hasan Nawaz gave the innings a late surge despite Bangladesh pulling things back slightly in the death overs. Shoriful Islam (2-32) was the pick of the Bangladeshi bowlers, while Mahedi Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Rishad Hossain, Shamim Hossain, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib picked one wicket each.

Chasing 202, Bangladesh began their reply with aggression. Tanzid Hasan (31 off 17) and Litton Das (48 off 30) looked dangerous, especially Litton, who dispatched the ball cleanly with his elegant strokeplay. At 100/2 in the 12th over, Bangladesh appeared in control.

However, the game turned sharply in Pakistan’s favour as wickets tumbled in quick succession. Khushdil Shah got the crucial breakthrough of Hridoy, and from there, Hasan Ali ripped through the middle and lower order with venom and control, claiming 5 wickets for 30 runs in 3.2 overs, his best figures in T20Is.

Shadab Khan complemented his batting heroics with the ball, taking 2/26 in four economical overs, including the prized scalp of Litton Das. Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, and Agha Salman chipped in with a wicket apiece. Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 164 in 19.2 overs, falling short by 37 runs. For his all-round brilliance, a rapid 48 with the bat and two key wickets, Shadab Khan was named Player of the Match.

Scores in Brief

PAKISTAN 201/7 in 20 overs (Salman Agha 56, Shadab Khan 48, Hasan Nawaz 44; Shoriful Islam 2-32) beat BANGLADESH 164 all out in 19.2 overs (Litton Das 48, Tanzid Hasan 31; Hasan Ali 5-30, Shadab Khan 2-26) by 37 runs.