Pakistan kept their semifinal hope alive from Group 2 of the ICC World Twenty20 defeating hosts Bangladesh by 50 runs n their 3rd match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket stadium in Dhaka on Sunday.
Pakistan will play West Indies in another must-win group match on Tuesday to assure the last four berths while Bangladesh will play Australia to complete their world cup campaign the same day and at same venue.
Pakistan played in all the four previous semifinals of the short version of the game.
Monday’s was Bangladesh’s fourth consecutive defeat in this tournament.
Chasing a huge total of 191 runs, Bangladesh managed only 140 runs for 7.
Going to bat, Bangladeshi batsmen, like the previous matches, lost wickets on regular intervals. Opener Tamim Iqbal as usual lead the rally scoring 15-ball 16 runs with boundaries, leaving team total 30 for 1 in 4.3 overs.
Opener Anamul Haque (18), two down Shamsur Rahman (4) and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (2) were back to the dressing room following footprint of Tamim leaving Bangladesh at 47 for 4 in 9.1 overs.
However, one down Shakib Al Hasan pairing with number six Nasir Hossain tried their best to repair the early damage contributing 44 runs in the 5th wicket stand.
Shakib scored the team’s highest 38 runs off 32 balls featuring two fours and two sixes before he was caught by Umar Akmal off a Umar Gul delivery while Nasir Hossain made 19-ball 23 runs with one four and a six before he was caught by Kamran Akmal, off Saeed Ajmal ball when scoreboard showing 122 for 6 in 16.6 overs.
Later, number eight Ziaur Rahman and lower order Mashrafe bin Mortaza reduced the margin of Bangladesh defeat, both scoring unbeaten 17.
Pakistani pacer Umar Gul claimed three wickets for 30 runs in his four over spell, spinner Saeed Ajmal took two for 20 while Shahid Afridi and Zulfiqar Babar took one wicket each.
Opener Ahmed Shehzad smashed his maiden T20 century on Sunday to steer Pakistan to an impressive 190 for 5 against hosts Bangladesh in their 3rd Group 2 match of the ICC World Twenty20 at the Sher–e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
Shehzad hammered an unbeaten hurricane innings of 111 runs off 62 balls in 97 minutes hitting 10 fours and five sixes.
He also contributed 83 runs in the 4th wicket stand with Shoaib Malik before Malik was stumped by Mushfiqur Rahim becoming the first victim of Shakib Al Hasan. He scored 23 26 runs with two boundaries leaving Pakistan on 154 for 4 in 17.4 overs,
Hard-hitting batsman Shahid Afridi quickfired nine-ball 22 runs hitting one four and two sixes, before he was caught by Ziaur Rahman, off a Al Amin delivery. By this time Pakistan cruised to 188 for 5 in 19.4 overs.
Batting first after winning the toss, Pakistan made a flying start scoring 40 runs in 4 overs but spinner Abdur Razzak made the first breakthrough packing Pakistani opener Kamran Akmal in his very 3rd ball of the first over to restrict Pakistan to 43 for 1 in 4.3 overs.
Kamran Akmal was brilliantly caught by Ziaur Rahman at short fine leg, off a Abdur Razzak delivery making 12-ball nine runs with two boundaries.
Spinner Abdur Razzak, who included in the day’s squad replacing Shohag Gazi,proved his worth grabbing his 2nd wicket dismissing Pakistani skipper Mohammad Hafeez. Hafeez was stumped by Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim scoring 12-ball eight runs while he tried to hit the ball coming down the pitch.
Mahmudullah Riyad put Pakistan in tension removing reliable batsman Umar Akmal with a duck in his very 2nd ball and in the 10th over of the match. Umar was also brilliantly caught by Tamim Iqbal at 3rd short 3rd man leaving team total on 71 for 3 in 9.2 overs.
Left arm spinner Abdur Razaak grabbed two wickets for 20 runs in his four over spell. Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad and Al Amin Hossain took one wicket each conceding 21, 24 and 37 runs respectively.
Earlier,Pakistan decided to bat first after winning the toss.
Host Bangladesh suffered their third successive defeat in the ongoing World Twenty20 against Hong Kong,West Indies and India.
Pakistan made one chance in their line up including Sohail Tanvir replacing Bilawal Bhatti.
Source: UNBConnect
