Pakistan displayed some fine all-round skills to easily overcome Bangladesh in their first game of the tournament. This was a Group A encounter and Pakistan won by 21 runs. 
Batting first after winning the toss, the Pakistani side were given a flying start by both, Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt. Butt started off with a boundary in the first over of the game, and Akmal smacked a couple to get going, as the Bangladeshis tried to get their lines and lengths right. Akmal also offered a difficult chance, but was dropped by Mohammad Ashraful, as each of the first six overs of the game went for at least one hit to the fence, to take the score to 47/0 in six overs.
In fact, this trend of hitting boundaries continued right through the Pakistani innings, as both the players brought about contrasting fifties; Butt was more graceful of the two, whereas Akmal was a dasher and yet, the former was quicker to get to the half century and of 29 balls only. Akmal brought up his half century soon after and it took him only 43 balls to get there.
The first Pakistani wicket fell with the score reading 142 in the 16th over, and that became the first over of the innings in which not a single boundary was scored. Akmal’s dismissal on 73 was soon followed by Shahid Afridi, both to Shakib al Hasan, and the innings was rounded by Butt being sent back for 73 as well, as the side ended on 172/3 in 20 overs.
In reply, Bangladesh struggled in the first six overs of the innings, and that is also where they lost the game. Imrul Kayes lasted all of a couple of deliveries before pulling one from Mohammad Aamer into the fielder’s hands, whereas Tamim Iqbal struggled to get going and scored 19 off 18 balls to reduce Bangladesh to 31/2 in the sixth.
It was only a slow starting, third wicket stand between Mohammad Ashraful and Shakib al Hasan, that brought things back for the side. both started off rather slowly and at one stage, with the score reading 68/2 at the half way mark, and 74/2 in 11, it looked like it was going to be tame end to the game.
But, after trying to play some cute shots, Mohammad Ashraful got going with his favourite drives and pulls and began to ram home the advantage. He brought up his fifty off 38 balls, as Shakib slammed a couple of sixes off Mohammad Hafeez as well to bring the side closer.
Unfortunately, the heat and humidity got to the captain Shakib and he was dismissed, playing a tired shot to long-off. After that Ashraful did his best to get the Bangladeshis home, but 50 runs off the last four overs was never going to be easy and they fell 22 short.
Salman Butt was named the man of the match for his excellent and quick half century.