In a commanding display of pace bowling, Bangladesh’s young sensation Nahid Rana delivered a career-best performance to guide his team to a resounding eight-wicket triumph against Pakistan in the opening match of their three-game ODI series on Wednesday. Rana’s devastating spell, where he claimed five crucial wickets for just 24 runs, played a pivotal role in restricting Pakistan to a mere 114 runs, a total that Bangladesh comfortably chased down in just over 15 overs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
The victory gave Bangladesh an early 1-0 lead in the series and was highlighted by a strong batting effort from opener Tanzid Hasan. Tanzid remained unbeaten on 67 runs off 42 balls, showcasing aggressive stroke play and composure under pressure. He forged an important second-wicket partnership of 82 runs alongside Najmul Hossain Shanto, who contributed a steady 27 runs. This partnership effectively sealed the game for Bangladesh, as they cruised to victory with plenty of overs to spare. Meanwhile, Saif Hassan was dismissed cheaply for four, and Litton Das remained not out on three, supporting Tanzid in the closing stages.
Earlier in the day, Nahid Rana’s fiery bowling laid the foundation for Bangladesh’s success. His seven-over spell was instrumental in dismantling Pakistan’s batting lineup, which collapsed to their lowest-ever ODI total against Bangladesh. The previous record low was 161 runs, set during the 1999 World Cup, but Rana’s relentless pace and accuracy ensured Pakistan fell well short of that mark. At just 23 years old, Nahid achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first Bangladeshi bowler to dismiss the top five batsmen of the opposition in a single ODI innings.
Rana’s victims included Sahibzada Farhan (27), Shamyl Hussain (4), Maaz Sadaqat (18), Mohammad Rizwan (10), and Salman Agha (5), as Pakistan found themselves reeling at 69 for 5. His incisive bowling was complemented by captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, whose off-spin accounted for three wickets while conceding 29 runs. The experienced pace duo of Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman chipped in with one wicket apiece, maintaining pressure on the Pakistani batsmen throughout the innings.
Despite a brief resistance from number eight batsman Faheem Ashraf, who scored a gritty 37 runs, Pakistan’s innings folded quickly. Ashraf’s dismissal by Mustafizur Rahman marked the end of Pakistan’s innings at 114 runs in just 30.4 overs. This comprehensive bowling performance by Bangladesh not only highlighted their growing strength in limited-overs cricket but also marked a significant milestone in Nahid Rana’s budding international career.
Since making his ODI debut earlier in 2024, Nahid had taken only five wickets across his first five matches. However, his breakthrough came in this sixth appearance, where he produced a stunning five-wicket haul that has now etched his name in Bangladesh cricket history. He became only the second Bangladeshi bowler to achieve a five-wicket haul against Pakistan in ODIs, joining the ranks of Mustafizur Rahman, who recorded figures of 5-75 during the 2019 World Cup. This performance not only boosts Nahid’s confidence but also signals Bangladesh’s growing prowess as a competitive side in international cricket.
