KARACHI: Vice-captain Bismah Maroof played a brilliant knock of 65* and returned figures of 3-14-1 to give Pakistan a 29-run victory over Bangladesh in the first Twenty20 International at the Southend Club ground in Karachi.

Bismah’s knock had propelled Pakistan to a total of 124 after Sana Mir won the toss and elected to bat in the historic match which ended a nine-year drought for women’s international cricket in the country.

The 24-year-old left-hander’s knock helped Pakistan recover from an early loss of Marina Iqbal who was dismissed in the very first over. Bismah and Javeria Khan, however, established an 87-run stand for the second wicket before the former was dismissed for 44 in the 15th over.

Following Javeria’s dismissal, Pakistan upped the ante but also lost wickets in quick succession.

Nida Dar and Iram Javed were sent back to the pavilion after scoring four runs, and Asmavia Iqbal just managed to score one before becoming a victim to Bangladesh bowler Fahima Khatun.

For Bangladesh, Nahida Akter was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Fahima managed to grab one in the last over.

When Bangladesh came into bat, they struggled to get away in their chase of 125 and kept on losing wickets at regular intervals.

Bangladesh only managed to post 95/7 in 20 overs. Aysaha Rahman (23), Fargana Haque (23) and Rumana Ahmed (22) offered some resistance but their effort was not enough to get Bangladesh within touching distance.

Bismah helped put a stranglehold on the tourist’s scoring rate and along with Anam Amin was the pick of the bowlers.

This was also the first international fixture to take place in Karachi after a gap of six years.

Pakistan and Bangladesh teams are scheduled to play two T20s (Sept. 30 and Oct 1) and two One-day Internationals (Oct 4 and Oct 6) at the Southend Club ground. The T20s are scheduled to start at 10.00am (PST) and the ODIs at 9.30am (PST).

Teams

Pakistan: Sana Mir (captain), Bismah Maroof (vice captain), Rabiya Shah (wicketkeeper), Asmavia Iqbal Khokhar, Javeria Wadood, Marina Iqbal, Sumaiya Siddiqui, Iram Javed, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin and Nida Dar.

Bangladesh: Salma Khatun (captain), Jahanara Alam (vice captain), Nigar Sultana Joty (wicketkeeper), Rumana Ahmed, Lata Mondol, Ayasha Rahman, Panna Ghosh, Fahima Khatun, Sharmin Akter Supta, Fargana Hoque and Nahida Akter.