Win Projections to be updated soon
Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan both scored brilliant half-centuries to help Pakistan defeat Bangladesh by seven wickets on Wednesday (September 6), opening the Super Fours phase of the Asia Cup. Pakistan’s performance was professional, powered by the blistering pace of Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah. Despite fifty-hitting performances from Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, Rauf and Naseem combined for seven wickets to restrict Bangladesh to 193. Pakistan completed the target in 39.3 overs because to Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten 63 and Imam’s well-constructed 78, who spearheaded the chase.
In the chase, the Pakistan openers got off to a cautious start, with Imam being held down by the Bangladesh pacers in particular. Fakhar Zaman, who started out by hitting two fours off Taskin Ahmed in the first over, later scored one against Shoriful Islam on the other side of a break caused by a broken floodlight. Imam finally got rolling with three fours in an over off Taskin while he was on 3 off 14. At the other end, Shoriful was conservative with his controlled lines and eventually dismissed Zaman. He was caught in front for 20 and dismissed for a fifty-less performance for the eighth time in a row, which also lost Pakistan a review.
The first 10 overs saw just 37 runs, and the bowlers from Bangladesh kept Pakistan in check despite losing a review for a leg-before claim against Imam in Hasan Mahmud’s over. They lost another soon after when Taskin struck Imam in the pads. Both reviews were overturned because the ball was pitched outside leg.
Shoriful’s first stint came to a close with only 18 runs off six overs, and he also had the unfortunate luck for a boundary when an edge from Babar’s bat went past backward point. Imam hit consecutive balls for four and six in Mahmud’s over, giving the innings some traction. However, Babar was quickly dismissed, getting bowled for 17 off an underedge after a low delivery from Taskin.
After playing a pick-up shot off Mahmud for a six and a draw for a four in the same over, Mohammad Rizwan immediately got going. Imam then used a review to overturn a leg-before decision in Mehidy Hasan’s opening over, and a few overs later, he reached fifty with a six off the spinner. Rizwan was actively rotating the strike, punctuated by boundaries, including one off Shakib, who entered the game to bowl just halfway through.
Imam also blasted the skipper of Bangladesh for a six over long-off, and Rizwan swept Mehidy for his fourth boundary as the third wicket partnership passed 50. As Pakistan crossed 150, Imam scored his fourth six with a pull shot off Mehidy, which was followed by another pull for a four. He attempted a slog sweep but went for one shot too many and was bowled. Before Agha Salman scored the game-winning four, Rizwan quickly collected boundaries to reach his 11th ODI fifty.
Earlier, after choosing to bat, Bangladesh was skittled out for a subpar score on a surface without any demons due to breakdowns on either side of a century partnership between Shakib and Mushfiqur. Bangladesh made a comeback after falling to 47/4 to reach 147/4 as they attempted to push for a respectable total. But it didn’t work out that way; they lost their final six wickets for just 46 runs, and their innings was over after 39 overs.
Naseem struck off his first delivery, removing Mehidy for a golden duck, while Shaheen Afridi began with a maiden. After recovering from an illness, Litton Das rejoined the team and capitalized on both pacers’ full deliveries by hitting a flurry of drives through the off side for fours. In an effort to make up for the early removal with some solid batting, the second wicket pair also included Mohammad Naim, who hit a few boundaries. Bangladesh lost their second wicket within five overs, however, as soon as Shaheen made the decision to bowl short of a length and got Litton to edge to the keeper.
Naim hit his fourth boundary off a fuller delivery from Shaheen, but Pakistan kept winning as Rauf claimed his 50th ODI wicket when Naim pulled too late and got a top edge. Towhid Hridoy was also dismissed for two runs by the bowler, sending Bangladesh reeling early on. Shakib and Rahim, an experienced duo who had previously rebuilt for Bangladesh, got to work, with the former being the more assertive of the two.
Shakib and Rahim were able to calm down thanks to some overs from Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf, who weren’t as dangerous as the other bowlers. The two were not shaken by the return of Rauf and Naseem, who was back on the field, as Shakib smashed short deliveries for boundaries to aid Bangladesh in making solid headway.
Salman, Pakistan’s sixth bowling option, got off to a costly start, going for 11 off his first over with both hitters scoring four runs each. After taking some early hits, Bangladesh found its footing, scoring 100 runs in partnership, with Shakib scoring a fifty off 53 balls. But Shakib’s attempt to drag Faheem across the boundary ended in a catch to deep midwicket, ending the stand abruptly.
The innings was then attempted to be stabilized once more as Rahim reached fifty and gained assistance from Shamim Hossain. After hitting a six off Shaheen, Shamim was quickly defeated by part-timer Iftikhar Ahmed. Iftikhar’s bowler, Afif Hossain, blasted a six over midwicket, but Rauf caught Rahim behind the stumps to conclude Rahim’s innings. The last two wickets were taken by Naseem, who finished off the innings quickly.
India
