Karachi, April 21:

Misbah-ul-Haq hit a career-best 87 not out to help Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 102 runs in a Twenty20 international on Sunday.

Pakistan had their best-ever score of 203-5 in Twenty20 cricket, fired by Misbah’s 53-ball innings. Pakistan took the last eight Bangladesh wickets for just 16 runs as the visitors were dismissed for 101 in 16 overs. Leg-spinner Mansoor Amjad took the last three wickets for just three runs in his first over.

Shahid Afridi twice dropped opener Tamim Iqbal (23) and captain Shoaib Malik misjudged Nazimuddin’s shot on 19. Nazimuddin went on to top score with 42.

Bangladesh never looked likely to reach the target with some poor running between the wickets after Iqbal was bowled by Sohail Tanvir in the sixth over. Aftab Ahmed (3), Farhad Reza (1) and Dhiman Ghosh (1) were all run out before Nazimuddin holed out in the deep in the 14th over.

Earlier, Misbah turned the Pakistan innings around with a half century that included three fours and five sixes. Pakistan opener Salman Butt (1) was run out off the second delivery while three balls later Kamran Akmal (0) was clean bowled by Mashrafe Mortaza as Pakistan slumped to 6-2.

Misbah added 78 off 49 balls with Younis Khan, who scored 47 off 28 deliveries before giving left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan a simple return catch. Misbah completed his half century off 34 balls and then surpassed his previous best score of 66.

Malik also made a rapid 35 off 18 balls before he was stumped in the 15th over. Paceman Mortaza (1-38) aggravated his knee injury and limped off the field as Mahmudullah bowled one delivery to complete the over.

Misbah and Fawad Alam (16 not out) took 20 runs in the last over of the innings off Shahadat Hossain for Pakistan to cross the 200-run mark for the first time.