Pakistan holds off Bangladesh

Dhaka - Mohammad Hafeez hit 25 and took 2-11 on Tuesday as Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 50 runs in the one-off Twenty20 game against Bangladesh.

Chasing a target of 136 to win the match at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Bangladesh could only total 85-9 at the end of their innings.

In Pakistan's innings of 135-7, Misbah-ul-Haq hit 21 not out and Umar Akmal 20. Bangladesh leg-spinner Alok Kapali took 2-12 and left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan claimed 2-24.

Nasir Hossain top-scored with 35 not out in Bangladesh's innings, with off-spinner Shoaib Malik finishing with 2-7.

Imrul Kayes was run out for 2 while fellow opener Naeem Islam was trapped lbw by Umar Gul on 3.

Kapali was caught for a duck by skipper Misbah-ul-Haq off Hafeez, who also bowled former Bangladesh skipper Shakib for 7.

Captain Mushfiqur Rahim was run out for 10 as Aizaz Cheema had Mahmudullah caught by Umar Akmal. Malik removed Abdur Razzak for 9 and trapped Shafiul Islam lbw for no runs.

Shahid Afridi dismissed allrounder Farhad Reza for 6.

Earlier, Shakib removed both openers, bowling Hafeez for 25 and having Imran Farhat caught by Rahim for 16.

Akmal was stumped for 20 by Rahim off a delivery from Kapali, who also had Afridi caught by Nasir Hossain on 8.

Abdur Razzak caught and bowled Malik for 2 and Sohail Tanvir was run out for 6. Asad Shafiq was caught by Razzak off Nasir Hossain for 19.

Pakistan has beaten Bangladesh in all four previous Twenty20s.

The hosts excluded opener Tamim Iqbal, who missed training for two days because of a knee injury, and added Reza.

Pakistan picked the same side from the series last month against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates.

The teams will play three one-day internationals starting on December 1.