Dhaka, Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman struck unbeaten half-centuries to lead Bangladesh to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the lone Twenty20 on Friday.
Bangladesh's first T20 win over Pakistan in eight matches followed a first series triumph in the one-day internationals. The two-test series starts on Tuesday.
Shakib was unbeaten on 57 and Sabbir undefeated on 51, as Bangladesh made 143-3 to run down the target with 22 balls to spare after Pakistan scored 141-5.
The Bangladesh openers were dismissed within the first three overs, but Shakib and Sabbir shared an undefeated 105-run stand.
Opener Tamim Iqbal hammered Mohammad Hafeez for 14 runs in the first over, but Soumya Sarkar was run out for a duck off the last ball, and Tamim lasted only 11 balls.
Wahab Riaz then removed Mushfiqur Rahim with top-drawer fast bowling to leave Bangladesh at a precarious 38-3.
Shakib and Sabbir refused to concede anything else. Once they set in, they took apart the experienced Pakistani bowling attack with utter derision.
Shakib struck nine fours in his 41-ball innings while Sabbir's 51 off 32 included seven fours and a six.
Pakistan, which elected to bat first, struggled for a fluent start in the face of some controlled bowling from debutant fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib, and was restricted to a sub-par total.
Debutant opener Mukhtar Ahmed top-scored with 37, while Haris Sohail was 30 not out off 24 balls.
Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed utilized the pressure well to remove struggling Ahmed Shehzad (17). And once Mustafizur dismissed Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi on 12, the hosts established their full control on the game.
Mustafizur claimed 2-20, while Taskin and left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny picked up one wicket apiece.
