Tigers roar back: Hridoy, Emon steer Bangladesh toward victory after early scare
On a pulsating Sunday evening, July 20, 2025, at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Bangladesh’s cricket team transformed early jitters into a surge of confidence, chasing 111 against Pakistan in the first T20I of a three-match series.
With openers Tanjid Hasan Tamim and captain Litton Das falling early, Towhid Hridoy and Parvez Hossain Emon rose to the occasion, guiding the Tigers to 54/2 in 8 overs, needing just 57 more runs to seal a thrilling victory.
A shaky start, a resilient recovery
The modest target of 111 seemed straightforward, but Pakistan’s bowlers struck early, dismissing Tanjid and Litton to leave Bangladesh reeling at 7/2. The Mirpur crowd held its breath, memories of past collapses looming. Enter Hridoy (26* off 23) and Emon (24* off 22), whose fearless batting steadied the ship. Their unbroken 47-run stand, laced with crisp drives and clever nudges, swung momentum back to the Tigers. “Hridoy and Emon are playing with guts! Victory in sight,” posted @TigerManiaBD on X, capturing the swelling optimism.
The duo’s composure on a tricky Mirpur pitch—where bounce and grip had earlier undone Pakistan—showcased Bangladesh’s growing T20 depth. With 12 overs left, the hosts are favorites to clinch the series opener, a potential statement win after their T20I triumph in Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Bangladesh’s bowling masterclass sets the stage
The chase was set up by a devastating bowling performance, led by Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, who exploited Mirpur’s challenging surface to skittle Pakistan for 110 in 19.3 overs. Captain Litton Das’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss proved inspired, as spinner Sheikh Mahedi Hasan struck in the first over. Fakhar Zaman (4) lofted a slog sweep, and Taskin, stationed at short fine leg, held a crucial catch, erasing memories of a dropped chance in a recent ODI.
Taskin’s second over saw him leak 9 runs in four balls before bouncing back, removing Saim Ayub (6 off 4) via Mustafizur’s catch at fine leg. Mahedi continued the assault, dismissing Mohammad Haris (4 off 3) at cow corner, leaving Pakistan at 32/2. Tanzim Hasan Shakib outfoxed Pakistan captain Salman Agha (3 off 9), caught by Litton after a failed scoop, while Mustafizur sent Hasan Nawaz back for a duck, capping a power play that saw Pakistan crumble to 41/4.
Run-outs deepened Pakistan’s woes. Mohammad Nawaz (3) fell to a mix-up, with Litton and Mahedi combining to break the stumps. Fakhar Zaman’s gritty 44 (34 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) offered resistance, but another miscommunication saw him run out on Taskin’s throw to Litton. Mustafizur’s slower ball deceived Khushdil Shah (18 off 23), caught by Rishad Hossain, and Taskin claimed Faheem Ashraf (5 off 9) to wrap up the innings. Taskin’s 3/22 and Mustafizur’s 2/6 were the standout figures, with Mahedi and Tanzim grabbing one each.
A nation’s hope soars
As Hridoy and Emon march toward victory, the Mirpur stands pulse with energy. The match, watched by figures like BNP’s Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, reflects cricket’s unifying power in a nation navigating post-2024 upheaval. With a 1-0 series lead in sight, Bangladesh’s Tigers are prowling toward a triumph that could echo far beyond the boundary ropes.
Lineups and context
Bangladesh XI: Parvez Hossain Emon, Tanjid Hasan, Litton Das (capt & wk), Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Hasan Nawaz, Salman Agha (capt), Mohammad Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed
Fresh off a T20I series win in Sri Lanka—despite Test and ODI losses—Bangladesh swapped Shoriful Islam for Taskin, a move that ignited their attack. Pakistan, who defeated the Tigers in their last T20I meeting at home, found Mirpur’s conditions and Bangladesh’s bowlers too hot to handle.