Pakistan Beats Bangladesh By 5 Wickets In 1st ODI

Dhaka, Dec 1: Shahid Afridi took five wickets and was unbeaten on 24 as Pakistan sealed a five-wicket win over Bangladesh despite a nervous run chase in the first one-day international on Thursday.

Afridi helped Pakistan bowl out the hosts for a paltry 91 and after his side was reduced to 63-5, the former captain partnered current skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (16 not out) to take Pakistan past the winning target in 25.4 overs.

Pakistan's spin attack combined to wreck Bangladesh's batting effort. While Afridi took the headlines with his 5-23, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik and Saeed Ajmal took a wicket each.

Quick bowlers Umar Gul and Aizaz Cheema also struck to make sure all six Pakistan bowlers finished with a wicket.

Nasir Hossain top-scored for Bangladesh on 21, with only Rubel Hossain (15 not out), Shakib Al Hasan (15) and Rahim (11) reaching double figures for Bangladesh's innings to end after just 30.3 overs.

The 12 extras were the fourth highest contribution to Bangladesh's total.

But having set up an easy win, Pakistan almost threw it away.

Opener Imran Farhat was bowled by Nasir in the 10th over, sparking the fall of five wickets for 27 runs. Shakib and Rubel took two wickets apiece.

The in-form Afridi, who returned to international cricket in November after resolving a dispute with the Pakistan Cricket Board, hit 24 from 23 balls while the much more conservative Misbah needed 46 balls for his 16 not out.

Pakistan took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The teams next meet in Dhaka on Saturday.