Hasan Ali delivered his best-ever T20I bowling performance to lead Pakistan to a 37-run victory over Bangladesh in the first match of their three-game T20I series at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday night.

 By PakPassion Staff (May 28, 2025)

Defending a total of 201 runs, Pakistan dismissed Bangladesh in 19.2 overs, with Hasan taking just 20 balls to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in T20Is and the 11th across all formats for Pakistan. The 30-year-old set the tone early by taking the first wicket in the second over.

Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan (31 off 17 balls, including 3 sixes) fought back with aggressive hitting but was bowled by Hasan at the end of the fourth over with Bangladesh on 37.

Towhid Hridoy (17) and captain Litton Das (48 off 30 balls) then put together a 63-run partnership, bringing Bangladesh to 75-2 at the halfway point. However, Shadab Khan broke the stand in the 12th over, and Khushdil Shah dismissed Towhid shortly after.

With Bangladesh at 107-4 at the start of the 14th over and the required run rate rising, Salman Ali Agha removed Shamim Hossain, and Shadab took Rishad Hossain’s wicket in the 16th over, increasing pressure on the visitors.

Hasan returned in the 18th over to take two more wickets and completed his five-for by dismissing Shoriful Islam in the final over. He gave away 30 runs in his spell.

Bangladesh lost their last seven wickets for just 64 runs in the final 7.2 overs. Shadab took 2 wickets for 26 runs, while Khushdil, Salman, and Faheem Ashraf took one wicket each.

Earlier, Pakistan posted 201-7, their third 200+ total in seven recent T20Is, powered by a fighting half-century from captain Salman Ali Agha (56 off 34 balls), and strong contributions from Hasan Nawaz (44) and Shadab Khan (48).

Pakistan lost early wickets of Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub but recovered through partnerships between Salman and Mohammad Haris, and later Salman and Hasan Nawaz. Shadab and Faheem Ashraf accelerated the scoring in the final overs, adding 43 runs in the last three overs.

For Bangladesh, aside from Shoriful Islam’s 2-32, all bowlers took one wicket each. Hasan Ali’s return to international cricket after a year-long absence was marked by a match-winning spell that helped Pakistan take a 1-0 lead in the series.