All-rounder Afridi hands Pakistan win

Shahid Afridi grabbed five wickets and then kept his cool in a batting crisis as Pakistan overcame Bangladesh by five wickets in the first ODI in Dhaka.

Dhaka: Shahid Afridi claimed 5-23 as Pakistan bowled out Bangladesh for a paltry 91 in the first one-day international at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka on Thursday.

Seven batsmen failed to reach double figures as the strong Pakistani attack grabbed wickets at regular intervals after Bangladesh elected to bat in the day-night match. Bangladesh lost half the side for 31 runs and barely managed to overhaul their lowest one-day total against Pakistan of 87. Wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed picked up four catches as leg-spinner Afridi ran through the batting on the slow wicket. Bangladesh never recovered after losing opener Tamim Iqbal with the fourth ball of the innings, trapped leg-before by off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez. Seamer Umar Gul, who shared the new ball with the spinner, struck in his third over when he forced Naeem Islam to edge a catch to skipper Misbah-ul-Haq in the slips. Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was caught behind off Shoaib Malik for 11, before Afridi grabbed two wickets in one over to reduce the Tigers to 31-5. Afridi had opener Shahriar Nafees caught at backward point by Malik and then saw Mohammad Mahmudullah edge a catch to Sarfraz three balls later. Nasir Hossain and Shakib Al Hasan put on 36 for the sixth wicket to ensure Bangladesh surpassed their lowest ever one-day total of 58 -- against the West Indies at the same venue during the World Cup in March. Nasir made 21 with two boundaries when he top-edged a catch off Aizaz Cheema, while Shakib became Afridi's third victim after scoring 15. Bureau Report