Pakistan rallies from 24-4 to beat Bangladesh

Pakistan recovered from a precarious 24-4 to beat Bangladesh by four wickets on Friday in the first of their three Twenty20s. The match was in the balance with three overs to go, then Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz hit two sixes each and Pakistan reached 132-6 in 19.2 overs, knocking off Bangladesh’s 127-7. Pakistan made a cautious start on the slow pitch before fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman rattled the stumps of Mohammad Rizwan for 11. Captain Babar Azam dragged one on to his stump on 7, but Bangladesh failed to keep up that pressure to the end. The damage was ultimately done when it was restricted to 127-7, continuing a poor batting record that haunted Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup. The team has lost six straight T20s.The second match is on Saturday.

BRIEF SCORES: Bangladesh 127/7 in 20 overs (Atif Hossain 36, Nurul Hasan 28, Mahedi Hasan 30*; Hasan Ali 3-22, Md Wasim 2/24) lost to Pakistan 132/6 in 19.2 overs (Fakar Zaman 34, Khushdil Shah 34, Shadab Khan 21*; Taskin Ahmed 2-31, Mahedi Hasan 1/17) by 4 wkts