Rumana Ahmed's heroics not enough for Bangladesh as Pakistan go 1-0 up

Rumana Ahmed's first fifty in T20Is and Jahanara Alam's four-wicket haul came in a losing cause as Pakistan, led by Bismah Maroof's batting contribution and Anam Amin's economical bowling, came up victorious in the first T20I against Bangladesh at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday (October 26).

Pakistan’s first match at home started off well. They had chosen to bat after winning the toss. But then they lost their openers cheaply, with just 15 runs on board inside the first three overs. Alam was responsible for the early strikes.

Maroof, the captain, and Omaima Sohail then got together to rebuild the innings. They initially took their time to get going, with the former surviving a dropped chance when on seven. It was an outside edge, which the wicket-keeper Shamima failed to gather standing up to the stumps.

Eventually, the duo targeted the spinners, especially Salma Khatun, who was taken for 39 runs in her three overs. Maroof and Sohail added 60 runs in 59 balls for the third wicket, before the skipper walked back in a bid to scoop Lata Mondal. She had scored 34 runs with six fours.

Soon, Sohail followed her captain to the dugout, as she departed for 33, featuring four fours. That pegged back Pakistan, but Iram Javed and Sidra Nawaz played quick innings down the order to take the score to respectability.

Alam picked up two more at the death to finish with a four-wicket haul.

Bangladesh’s reply in chase of 127 didn’t get to the best of starts. The hosts’ new-ball bowlers Diana Baig and Anam Amin struck quickly to reduce the tourists to two for six in the first 14 balls.

Two partnerships for Bangladesh gave them hope and kept them in the match. The first was a 34-run stand in 48 balls between Sanjida Islam and Nigar Sultana for the third wicket and the other was between Fargana Hoque and Ahmed, who added 36 in just 29 balls for the fifth wicket.

Ahmed hit some lusty blows towards the end, bringing up her maiden T20I fifty off just 28 balls. But the situation was out of grasp even for her, as they fell 14 runs short eventually.

Amin, the left-arm spinner, was the pick of bowlers for the home side, sending two batters back.

Brief Scores: Pakistan 126/7 in 20 overs (Bismah Maroof 34, Omaima Sohail 33; Jahanara Alam 4-17) beat Bangladesh 112/7 in 20 overs (Rumana Ahmed 50; Anam Amin 2-13) by 14 runs.