Pakistan recovered from a precarious 24/4 to beat Bangladesh by four wickets on Friday in the first of their three-match T20I series.

Bangladesh did well initially in defending their score of 127/7. The match was in the balance with three overs to go, but then Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz hit two sixes each to help Pakistan reach the target in 19.2 overs.

Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah launched Pakistan’s recovery with a 56-run partnership for the fifth wicket. They scored 34 each. But both the batsmen were removed in quick succession. First, Fakhar chased a wide delivery from fast bowler Taskin Ahmed to edge to wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan and then Khushdil was undone by a slower ball outside off by pacer Shoriful Islam.

With the visitors needing 32 runs in the last three overs, Shadab and Nawaz pulled off a blitz to break Bangladesh’s stranglehold.

Shadab struck an unbeaten 21 off 10, hitting the winning six by slog-sweeping leg-spinner Aminul Islam over deep mid-wicket. Nawaz was unbeaten on 18 off 8.

Earlier, Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali, with 3/23, triggered a collapse, leaving Bangladesh at 40/4 in the ninth over. Afif Hossain top-scored for the side with 36 and Mahedi Hasan was unbeaten on 30 to help the side get past 100.

Bangladesh have now lost six straight T20Is.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 127/7 in 20 ovs (Hasan Ali 3/23). Pakistan 132/6 in 19.2 ovs (Fakhar Zaman 34, Khushdil Shah 34). Pakistan won by 4 wickets.