Photo courtesy: IANS
In the first match of the Asia Cup’s Super Four stage at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Pakistan’s fast bowler Haris Rauf displayed exceptional pace and skill, leading his team to dismiss Bangladesh for a mere 193 runs in 38.4 overs.
Despite the flat pitch, Haris Rauf’s thunderous deliveries made him the standout bowler for Pakistan, finishing with impressive figures of 4-19. Naseem Shah, despite facing a shoulder injury scare, contributed significantly with 3-34, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Faheem Ashraf took one wicket each.
For Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim fought back with individual scores of 53 and 64, forming a partnership of 100 runs for the fifth wicket after Bangladesh was struggling at 47-4 at one point. However, once Shakib departed, Bangladesh’s innings began to crumble, and they ended up with a score of less than 200, losing their last four wickets in just nine balls.
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Pakistan opted to bowl first, and they struck early when Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who had scored a century in the previous game, was dismissed for a golden duck in the second over, chipping the ball straight to mid-wicket off Naseem Shah’s delivery.
Litton Das showed some aggression, hitting four boundaries in his 13-ball 16, but he eventually edged behind to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan off a Shaheen Shah Afridi delivery. Haris Rauf then claimed his 50th ODI wicket by troubling Mohammad Naim, who top-edged a pull shot, safely caught by the pacer.
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Rauf ended the power-play by dislodging Towhid Hridoy’s stumps with a delivery clocking 145kph, leaving Bangladesh in a precarious position at 47-4 in just 9.1 overs.
Shakib and Mushfiqur, the experienced duo, combined to rescue Bangladesh from their predicament. With the pace dropping off from Pakistan’s fast bowlers due to the sweltering Lahore heat, Shakib and Mushfiqur seized the opportunity to stabilize the Bangladesh innings. Shakib survived a scare when he was on 32, as Naseem Shah dropped a simple return catch in the 20th over.
Shakib reached his 54th ODI fifty, and their partnership crossed the 100-run mark. However, Shakib’s dismissal for a 57-ball 53, pulling a Faheem short ball to deep mid-wicket, marked a turning point in the innings.
Soon after, Mushfiqur reached his 46th ODI fifty, but Shakib’s exit opened the door for Pakistan to make a comeback. Shamim Hossain mistimed a slog off Iftikhar Ahmed to the deep, followed by Mushfiqur nicking behind off Haris Rauf. Rauf also removed Taskin Ahmed for a golden duck, while Naseem Shah claimed the last two wickets, ensuring that Bangladesh finished with a total of 193 runs.
In summary, Bangladesh managed to score 193 runs, with Mushfiqur Rahim contributing 64 runs and Shakib Al Hasan scoring 53 runs. Haris Rauf was the standout bowler for Pakistan, taking four wickets for 19 runs, while Naseem Shah picked up three wickets for 34 runs. Pakistan successfully dismantled Bangladesh’s innings, keeping them seven runs short of the 200-run mark.
-IANS
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