Liton scores 50 off 31 balls after shaky start from openers

Bangladesh openers had a disappointing outing with the bat against Pakistan at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch today as the Tigers' headache with the opening combination continues.

However, Bangladesh are 96 for two after 12 overs, with Liton Das unbeaten on 53 off 33 balls and Shakib Al Hasan, unbeaten on 25 off 20 balls, supporting Liton well in the middle.

Bangladesh featured yet another new opening pair, this time Nazmul Hossain Shanto pairing with Soumya Sarkar, who had an impressive outing in the previous game against New Zealand on Wednesday.

Soumya started well with a chip over cover that resulted in three runs. However, his partner Shanto was consuming deliveries one after another and had scored just one run in the first nine deliveries he faced. Bangladesh were seven for no loss after two overs and, with pressure building fast, Soumya was dismissed (4) soon as he tried to play a lofted shot to a Naseem Shah delivery over mid-on.

It took as many as 19 deliveries for Bangladesh to get going in their innings, courtesy of birthday boy Liton striking consecutive boundaries off Mohammad Wasim in the beginning of the fourth over.

Liton's urgency apparently rubbed off on Shanto and he too hit a couple of boundaries before departing. Shanto's 15-ball 12 ended as the batter got a nick from an attempted scoop over fine leg, resulting in Naseem scalping his second wicket.

Bangladesh batters targeted Mohammad Hasnain in the innings' sixth over -- which saw three boundaries, including one from Shanto -- and ended Powerplay on 41 for two.

In-form Shakib joined Liton, who seemed to have recovered from a cramp he suffered in the fourth over, and the Bangladesh captain struck consecutive boundaries, including a six, off Mohammad Nawaz's first over.

And after facing 30 deliveries, Liton brought up his seventh fifty of his T20I career as he took a single off Shadab Khan.