Bangladesh started the series with a 27-run win over the United Arab Emirates in Sharjah, thanks to a brilliant century by Parvez Hossain Emon and a dominant performance from the pacers.
On Saturday (May 17), at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh lost the toss and were sent to bat in the first T20I. Litton Das’s team posted 191 runs for 7 wickets in 20 overs. In reply, UAE managed 164 for 8 in their allotted overs, falling short by 27 runs.
In this match, Parvez Emon became the second Bangladeshi after Tamim Iqbal to score a century in international T20s. He reached the three-figure mark in just 53 balls, setting the record for the fastest T20I century by a Bangladeshi. The previous record was held by Tamim Iqbal, who scored 103 off 63 balls against Oman in 2016. Emon’s innings included 9 sixes and 5 fours.
While Tanzid Hasan Tamim scored 10 runs off 9 balls, captain Litton Das made 11 off 8, Towhid Hridoy added 20 off 15, and Jaker Ali scored 13, it was Emon’s explosive innings that anchored Bangladesh to a big total.
In bowling, Mohammad Jawadullah was impressive for UAE, taking 4 wickets for 21 runs in 4 overs, dismantling Bangladesh’s middle order.
Chasing the target, UAE had a strong start, scoring 38 runs in the first three overs. But in the fourth over, Hasan Mahmud broke the opening partnership by dismissing Zohaib for 9 off 9 balls with a catch at mid-on.
In the following over, Mustafizur Rahman took the ball and dismissed Alishan Sharafu, who was caught behind. Then Waseem Hamid and Rahul Chopra tried to bring UAE back into the game with a 62-run partnership. Waseem reached his fifty in just 32 balls. However, Tanzim Sakib induced a catch at short fine leg off Mustafiz’s bowling to dismiss him, breaking the backbone of UAE’s resistance.
In the next over, Sakib also removed Rahul Chopra, who scored 35 off 22 balls with 5 fours and 1 six. After that, UAE kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
In the death overs, Tanvir Islam, Hasan Mahmud, and Mustafiz took more key wickets. UAE needed 34 runs in the final over but could manage only 6 runs and lost 2 wickets.
Hasan Mahmud was the top wicket-taker for Bangladesh with 3 wickets. Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Sakib, and Sheikh Mehedi Hasan took 2 wickets each, while Tanvir Islam claimed 1 wicket.
The second and final T20I of the series will be held on May 19 at the same venue.
