Pakistan thrash Bangladesh to keep Cricket World Cup hopes alive
Pakistan kept alive their slender chances of making the semi-finals of the World Cup with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory against Bangladesh on Tuesday.
Electing to bat, Bangladesh could never really recover from a top‑order collapse and posted 204 before being all out in the 46th over at the Eden Gardens.
Pakistan’s three-pronged pace attack impressed with the new ball and were equally effective in the death overs with only Mahmudullah (56) managing to score a half‑century for Bangladesh.
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The openers Fakhar Zaman (81) and Abdullah Shafique (68) shared a 128-run stand to set up a Pakistan victory that came with 17.3 overs to spare in a significant boost to their net run-rate. Babar Azam’s team moved into fifth place after their third win in seven matches, while Bangladesh became the first team to drop out of contention.
“We are trying to force things but it isn’t working,” the Bangladesh captain, Shakib Al Hasan, said after his side endured their sixth defeat in seven matches. “We have to perform together, which is not happening. We are looking for answers but aren’t getting them.”
The Pakistan head coach, Grant Bradburn, had rued how lack of swing in India had neutered Pakistan’s pace attack, usually their strong suit, so he must have been pleased as the pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim and Haris Rauf claimed eight of the 10 Bangladesh wickets.
The left-armer Afridi struck with his fifth delivery, trapping Tanzid Hasan lbw for his 100th one-day international wicket. Najmul Hossain Shanto fell in Afridi’s next over and Bangladesh slumped to 23 for three after Rauf had Mushfiqur Rahim caught behind in the sixth over.
Litton Das (45) and Mahmudullah arrested the slide but any Bangladesh flourish did not materialise. Shakib made 43 but Wasim took three wickets in his last seven deliveries to hasten Bangladesh’s collapse.
Replacing Imam-ul-Haq at the top of the order, Fakhar found his form as he and Abdullah started dictating terms from the start. A ball after Abdullah brought up his fifty with a single off Taskin Ahmed, Fakhar reached his own in a more spectacular manner by hitting the pace bowler back over his head for six.
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The off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz trapped Abdullah lbw, a decision that was upheld after the batter challenged it. Babar gave away his wicket and Fakhar, who smacked seven sixes, fell short of his hundred but Pakistan’s victory was merely a matter of time by then.
“We are trying to win our remaining matches and see where we stand,” Babar said of Pakistan’s semi-final hopes. “This win hopefully gives us confidence in the coming matches.”