Meek batting from Bangladesh gives Pakistan easy win

Bangladesh started their Pakistan tour with a defeat as they were beaten by five wickets by the hosts at Lahore. 

The Tigers had set Pakistan a target of 142 and though Pakistan lost a couple of wickets at the start, they chased it down fairly easily with three balls in hand.

Shoaib Malik was adjudged man of the match for his innings of 58 from 45 balls as he helped Pakistan chase down the total.

Malik's innings was a calm and composed one with five boundaries and he steered his team how with minimum of fuss as the asking rate never troubled the batsmen.

In a pitch where scoring did not look that tough, Bangladesh only put up 141-5 batting first as nobody in their batting lineup could either score big or score fast. 

Chasing 142, Pakistan were dealt with an early blow as their skipper Babar Azam was sent back by Shafiul Islam. Babar reviewed but replays showed a clear inside edge as he had to go back for a duck. 

Mohammad Hafeez was the next to go back in the fifth over as he was deceived by a Mustafizur Rahman cutter and was caught at short extra cover to go back for 17.

But a 46-run stand between debutant Ahsan Ali and Shoaib Malik steadied their rocking ship before Aminul Islam struck to send back Ahsan for 36. Ahsan tried to slog the leggie but only managed to top-edge it as substitute fielder Najmul Hossain Shanto took an easy catch to send the batsman back. 

Mustafiz managed to induce some edges in the 13th over, but all went through the gaps as Bangladesh's hopes for a victory started to dim. 

Shafiul sent Iftikhar Ahmed back before Malik picked up his fifty off 40 deliveries. Al-Amin Hossain sent Imad Wasim back but all these turned out to be consolations as Pakistan reached their target with three balls to go. 

Shafiul picked up a couple of wickets with Mustafiz, Al-Amin and Aminul picking up one each. 

Earlier, winning the toss, Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah Riyad elected to field first as Bangladesh went with five apparent openers in their side with all of Tamim Iqbal, Naim Sheikh, Liton Das, Afif Hossain and Soumya Sarkar playing. Among them, Tamim and Naim were sent in to open the innings and they had a cautious start as they nicked off 35 runs in the powerplay. 

Tamim and Naim's partnership never accelerated before Tamim was run out in the 11th over for 39 off 34 deliveries. Tamim tried to steal a double but only managed to find himself short of his ground as their 71-run stand broke. 

Shadab Khan's 15th over saw two wickets fall as both Naim and Liton was sent back. Liton was out in a similar fashion to Tamim as a direct hit from Shadab saw Liton fall short before Naim was caught at mid-on for 43 in the very next delivery. 

Bangladesh's run-rate never went past eight and Afif was the next to go as Haris Rauf clattered the youngster's stumps to pick up his first wicket in international cricket. Soumya also saw himself bowled as he was deceived by an off-cutter from Shaheen Shah Afridi to go back for seven. 

Mahmudullah and Mohammad Mithun took 13 off the last over as they ended on 141-5 with Mahmudullah unbeaten on 19.