CHRIS DHAMBARAGE
COLOMBO – Pakistan cleared their first hurdle of the 2023 Asia Cup Limited Overs Cricket Tournament Super Four Segment when they defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan on Wednesday.
After bundling out their opponents for a modest 193 runs in 38.4 overs, Pakistan raced to their target in style on the back of two half centuries from opener Imam-ul-Haq and wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan.
Imam led Pakistan’s run chase with a fluent 78 from 84 balls inclusive of four sixes and five boundaries while Rizwan remained unbeaten on 63 from 79 deliveries, studded with one six and seven boundaries.
The pair also added 85 runs for the third wicket without taking a risk as Pakistan reached their victory target with more than 10 overs and seven wickets to spare.
Earlier, Pakistan produced a clinical performance on the field to bowl out Bangladesh for under 200 runs.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Bangladesh lost opener Mehidy Hasan in the second ball of the innings and from there onwards they struggled for runs despite a brief resistance from Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.
The most experienced pair in the Bangladesh batting line-up, fought back magnificently and added exactly one hundred runs for the fifth wicket after they had collapsed to 47 for four wickets in the 10th over.
Shakib launched a superb counterattack as he smashed a 57-ball 53 with the help of seven hits to the ropes while Mushfiqur went on to hit a top score of 64 from 87 balls inclusive of five boundaries.
However, after their dismissals, the Bangladesh innings turned into disaster as they lost the last four wickets for the addition of just three runs in six deliveries.
In fact, Bangladesh were unable to bat their full quota of 50 overs as the pace combination of Naseem Shah and Player of the Match Haris Rauf ran through the innings through some hostile bowling.
Chief scores
Bangladesh: 193 in 38.4 overs (Mohammad Naim 20, Shakib Al Hasan 53, Mushfiqur Rahim 64, Naseem Shah 3/34, Haris Rauf 4/19)
Pakistan: 194/3 in 39.3 overs (Fakhar Zaman 20, Imam-ul-Haq 78, Mohammad Rizwan 63 n.o).