Pakistan bat Bangladesh by four wickets to take early lead in the three-match series. They were reduced to 24/4 before Khushdil Shah and Fakhar Zaman held their nerves, and steadied the chase to see them home in 19.2 overs.
Mahmudullah's decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired. Their inexperienced top order could not provide them with a decent start. By the end of the fifth over, Bangladesh were three down for just 16. Hasan Ali had Mohammad Naim (1) caught behind, while Mohammad Wasim Jr got Saif Hassan (1) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (7).
Mahmudullah's dismissal in the ninth over reduced them to 40/4. Afif Hossain's 36, including two fours and two sixes, was the highest score of the innings. An unbeaten 30 from Mahedi Hasan propelled them to 127/7 in 20 overs. For Pakistan, Hasan Ali picked up three wickets and Mohammad Wasim Jr two.
Pakistan, too, have had a terrible start, losing four wickets by the end of the Powerplay. Mustafizur Rahman got rid of Rizwan on 11, while Babar Azam, Haider Ali, and Shoaib Malik got out to the last balls of three consecutive overs. After six overs, the scoreboard read 24/4.
With 34 runs apiece, Zaman and Khushdil then added 56 for the fifth wicket to bring Pakistan back in the game. Shadab Khan (21 off 10) and Mohammad Nawaz (18 off 8) then hit a flurry of boundaries to take Pakistan across the line.
Bangladesh 127/7 in 20 overs (Afif Hossain 36; Hasan Ali 3-22) lost to Pakistan 132/6 in 19.2 overs (Fakhar Zaman 34, Khushdil Shah 34; Taskin Ahmed 2-31) by 4 wickets with 4 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Hasan Ali.