Bangladesh managed to avoid an upset against UAE in the first of two Twenty20 internationals Sunday, thanks to Afif Hossain`s career-best unbeaten 77 and Mehidy Hasan Miraz`s 3-17.
The nail-biting match dragged on to the last over as hosts UAE scored 151 losing all wickets while in their chase of 159 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Batting first, the Tigers recovered from a shaky start to post 158-5 and then Miraz`s bowling helped them to bowl UAE in 19.4 overs.
Nurul Hasan Sohan who stood as the captain in absence of Shakib Al Hasan hit 35 off 25, clobbering two fours and two sixes.
Afif and Sohan basically lifted the side with an 81-run partnership for an undefeated sixth wicket stand after a familiar batting debacle saw Bangladesh being reduced to 77-5.
Bangladesh was asked to bat and opened through Sabbir Rahman and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, leaving Liton Das bat at No.3 position.
But the opening pair failed to deliver with Sabir Ali striking in the second over to remove Sabbir for duck.
The UAE batters gave Bangladesh some scare initially but the gulf of difference in the experience between the two sides made the ultimate difference.
But for the tourists, Shoriful Islam with 3-21 and Mustafizur with 2-31 played their part alongside Miraz in bowling.
The second and final T20I will be held Tuesday.
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