LAHORE: Pakistan on Wednesday thrashed Bangladesh in the Asia Cup Super 4’s match at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday with 10 overs to spare. Pakistan were chasing a target of 194 which Green Shirts achieved quite comfortably.
Mohammad Rizwan sealed the victory with a boundary after a brisk half-century. He scored 63 runs not out. This win is Pakistan’s first of the Super 4 stage, as the host’s dazzling pacers overwhelmed the Tigers’ batting line-up. Despite losing Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam early, the paltry total proved to be a cakewalk for the number 1 one-day side.
Pakistani opener Fakhar Zaman scored 20 runs, while Imamul Haq led Pakistani response by securing valiant 78 runs. His innings was laced with five fours and four lofty sixes.
Skipper Babar Azam could only contribute 17 runs before trapped LBW to Taskin Ahmed. Salman Agha remained unbeaten on 12 runs.
Bangladesh could not face Pakistani pacers and the team collapsed on 193 runs. In the face of Pakistan’s formidable pace attack, Bangladesh found themselves reeling at just 50 runs, having lost four wickets early on. However, the seasoned Bangladeshi pair of Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan then showcased their resilience, constructing a vital 100-run partnership.
Nonetheless, the momentum shifted when Shakib misjudged a delivery from Faheem Ashraf and was caught out near the boundary during the 30th over. Following Shakib’s departure, Bangladesh’s next five batsmen struggled to cope with the relentless pace attack, led by Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah.
They only managed to add a mere 36 runs to the scoreboard, ultimately resulting in the team being bundled out for a total of 193 runs.
Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat against Pakistan in the first Super 4 match of the Asia Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday.
Speaking after winning the toss, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan said that the team would put pressure on the Green Shirts if they managed to put runs on the board.
“We want to replicate what we did against Afghanistan but we are facing the no. 1 team in the world so we need to play our best. We know what their strengths and weaknesses are,” he said.
Meanwhile, skipper Babar Azam said that if Pakistan had won the toss, the team would also have opted to bat.
Squads
Pakistan: Babar Azam (C), Fakhar Zaman, Imamul Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf
Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (C), Mohammad Naim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shamim Hossain, Afif Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud.
