Sports Desk
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan comfortably won against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup Super 4’s match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday with 10 overs to spare. Pakistan were chasing a target of 194.
Mohammad Rizwan sealed the victory with a boundary after a brisk half-century. This win is Pakistan’s first of the Super 4 stage, as the host’s dazzling pacers overwhelmed the Tigers’ batting line-up. Despite losing Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam early, the paltry total proved to be a cakewalk for the number 1 one-day side.
President Dr Arif Alvi, Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman and Zaka Ashraf, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s interim Management Committee, are also among those watching today’s match in person.
Shakib brought himself on for the 36th over as the Bangladeshi skipper looked to make something happen for his side. He bowled a good over as Shakib gave away only a single off his six balls. Mehidy was kept on for his 10th over by Shakib as the pairing of Agha and Rizwan gathered five singles from his last over. Mehidy finished his 10 overs for 51 and took one wicket.
Shakib was dispatched for a boundary by Rizwan on the first delivery of his fifth over. A lofted shot over the infield took Pakistan closer to the target. Three singles from 38th ended Shakib’s over as Pakistan needed 14 from 12 overs.
Four singles and a boundary brought the required to less than 10 runs. Shamim was brought on for his first over in the 39th over and leaked eight runs.
It took three balls of Shakib’s sixth over for Pakistan to score the remaining six runs. Pakistan chased down 194 against Bangladesh to win the first game of the Super four by seven wickets and 10.3 overs remaining.
The home side comfortably ticked the score along as the duo gathered five runs off Mehidy’s seventh over.
A stable session from Pakistan forced Shakib to bring in Hasan Mahmud to replace himself. Mahmud kept it tight and at length, giving away only a single in the 32nd over.
Imam rocked back on the second ball of Mehidy’s eighth and the ball sailed over the fence for a six. He went after Mehidy again on the fourth ball, pulling him for a boundary past square. The Bangladeshi spinner though struck through a full delivery that drifted in as Imam’s slog sweep failed to connect. Imam departed after a good innings of 78 of 84 balls with five fours and four sixes. Salman Ali Agha came down after Imam to face the last delivery of the 33rd over. Mahmud continued with his seventh over as Pakistan needed 35 runs from 17 overs. The unlucky bowler found Rizwan’s edge which flew past the keeper for a boundary. No slip in pace helped the wicketkeeper as Pakistan looked to chase the target early.
Mehidy began his second last over for the innings against Salman who looked wary of the spinner. Just two singles from the 34th over brought Pakistan’s score to 167 for a loss of three wickets.
Overs 26-30
A cheeky scoop on the second ball of the 26th from Rizwan welcomed the visitor’s skipper Shakib to the crease. Shakib went for six in what was a much-awaited first over.
Mehidy gave away only three runs in the 27th over as the home side now needed 71 runs from 23 overs.
Shakib was dispatched over the ropes by Imam in his second over. A tossed-up delivery brought Imam down the track and hammered it over long off. Nine runs off the 28th as the pair started to up the ante.
Mehidy was swept for a boundary on the first delivery by Rizwan as he continued on with his sixth over. Three singles from the over brought leaked a total of seven runs in the 29th over.
Pakistan’s tally reached 142 with three singles in the 30th over off Shakib Al Hasan.
Overs 21-25
Mehidy gave away three singles in the 21st over as the Pakistani batters cautiously trodded along.
Three runs of Shoriful Islam’s seventh over kept the score ticking for the home side. The required run rate was still at 3.5 runs per over.
Rizwan paddle-scooped Mehidy fine past Mushfiqur for a boundary on the fourth ball of the 23rd over. Six runs of the third took Pakistan’s score past the 100-run mark.
Shoriful was kept on by Shakib for what was his eighth over of the innings. Two off the bat and a wide ball kept the run count at three for the over.
Imam swung the second ball of Mehidy’s fourth out of the park to get to his 19th ODI half-century. Imam rocked back as the ball dropped short outside off for the opener to dispatch it outside the boundary. Three more singles leak nine runs from the 25th over with Pakistan at 114 for the loss of two.
Overs 16-20
Taskin removed Babar with a delivery that stayed low. The uneven bounce of the Gaddafi stadium did it for the number one batsman in the world. A wicket-maiden by the pacer as Rizwan came down to bat.
Rizwan opened his account with a swipe over square leg as the ball flew over ropes. Mahmud went for 11 in his fifth over as Rizwan looked to up the ante with a six and a four.
Taskin continued with his spell bowling tight and short. Good bowling from Bangladesh’s bowler as he gave away only three runs in the 18th over.
Spinner Mehidy replaced Mahmud and trapped Imam in front of the wickets for the third time in the innings. The decision was reviewed by Imam as the finger from the umpire did go up this time. The third umpire asked the on-field umpire to overturn his decision after the ball spun sharply and missed the stumps. The over ended with only a single from it.
Another good over from Taskin ended the 20th with Pakistan’s chase at 90 for the loss of two wickets.
Overs 11-15
Mahmud began with the 11th over giving away seven runs. The pair, Imam and Babar, started ticking the score with singles and doubles. Imam had a scare on the fifth ball as Mahmud trapped him in front but the umpire was not convinced. The decision was reviewed by Shakib but was unsuccessful as the ball was pitching outside leg. Bangladesh lost a review.
Shoriful found Babar’s edge on the first ball of the 12th over but the ball flew past the fielder and reached the boundary as the home side breathed a sigh of relief. Four more runs resulted in 8 runs off Shoriful’s sixth.
Five of Mahmud’s third over took Pakistan’s score to 57 for the loss of one wicket. Babar and Imam ticked the score for the home side very nicely.
Taskin was brought back into the attack by Shakib to replace Shoriful who had bowled his first spell of six overs. Taskin, like Mahmud, trapped Imam in front as the visitors went up in appeal. Identical to the previous incident, the decision reviewed by Shakib, the ball pitched just outside leg as the bowling side lost their second review.
Mahmud continued his spell into the 15th over and proved to be expensive due to some sloppy fielding and good batting. A four and a six off the last two balls increased Pakistan’s score to 74 for the loss of one wicket. Fifteen off the 15th over.
Overs 6-10
Islam continued with the bowling after play was stopped because of an issue with one of the floodlights. Islam resumed where he left off as he kept it tight until Fakhar latched onto a short delivery for a boundary on the last ball.
Imam pulled Taskin for back-to-back boundaries in the middle of the seventh over before dispatching the last delivery across the ropes as well. There was a quick flow of runs for Pakistan after play resumed.
A good comeback from Shoriful as the Tigers gave only a single run in the eighth over.
Hasan Mahmud replaced Taskin in the ninth over, the pacer went for a single to start his spell.
Shoriful continued his good spell in the tenth over, dismissing Fakhar off the first ball of the tenth over. Fakhar departed after scoring 20 with Pakistan’s score at 35 for the loss of one wicket.
Skipper Babar Azam came down to the crease after Fakhar’s departure.
Shoriful completed the powerplay giving 2 off the 10th over. Pakistan were at 37 for the loss of one wicket.
Overs 1-5
Typical of Zaman to open innings with a bang. The opener dispatched Taskin Ahmed for two fours, one in front of square while the other nicked down the leg side. The first over ended for the hosts at eight runs at the loss of no wickets.
Shoriful Islam kept it tight in his first over as he swung the ball both ways. The pacer started off the innings with a maiden as Imam waited to get off the mark.
Pakistan started slow as the third over went for only three runs. But they have time and wickets. Taskin, however, was bowling quickly and accurately.
Islam, then bowling to Fakhar, only went for a single run in what has been a really good start from the bowling side. Pakistan stood at 12 runs at the end of the fourth over having lost no wicket.
A cautious start from Pakistan as the Tigers’ bowling attack keeps it tight. A good spell from the pair, Taskin and Islam, kept Pakistan’s score at 15 for the loss of no wickets at the end of the first five overs.
