World Cup: Pakistan 'Bang' on target

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan (right) looks at Pakistan’s opening pair of Abdullah Shafique (left) and Fakhar Zaman, who put on a match-winning partnership of 128 runs, during their World Cup match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata yesterday. Pic/AFP

Pakistan made short work of a target of 205 at the Eden Gardens here on Tuesday to send Bangladesh to their sixth successive defeat.

The seven-wicket victory, completed in the 33rd over, took Pakistan to the fifth rung of the points table and keeps alive the mathematical possibility of further progress.

Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman set up the chase nicely with an opening partnership of 128. Shafique hit nine boundaries and a couple of sixes in a 69-ball 68 while Fakhar Zaman, back after being dropped after the first match, went on to hammer a 74-ball 81 that had seven towering sixes in addition to three boundaries.

Miraz causes a flutter

Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who had trapped Shafique leg-before, picked up the wickets of Babar Azam and Fakhar to cause a flutter but it was too little too late. Babar Azam's poor form continued, but it didn't matter on a day his team outplayed the opposition in every department of the game.

Earlier, Mahmudullah Riyad, Litton Das and skipper Shakib al Hasan were the main contributors to a Bangladesh scorecard littered with single-digit scores. Towhid Hridoy, brought in for all-rounder Mehidy Hasan in a bid to bolster the batting, was one of them. Setting out on a reckless path, he lasted just three deliveries. Having slog-swept leg-spinner Usama for a six, he was caught by the lone slip fielder the very next ball after being lured into another wild swing outside the off-stump.

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Early blows for Bangladesh

As has happened too frequently for comfort, Bangladesh were pegged back by the loss of early wickets, Shaheen Afridi striking in each of his first two overs and first-change Haris Rauf removing the dangerous Mushfiqur Rahim, all within the first six overs. Opener Litton Das hung around to add 79 off 89 balls with Mahmudullah for the fourth wicket, both lining efficiency with elegance. It looked strong and good for more before the soft dismissal of Das, who ballooned one off the leading edge to mid-wicket. His 45 off 64 had six boundaries.

Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah Riyad were finally brought up the order. While the former fell early, Mahmudullah went on to hit six boundaries and a six in a 70-ball 56.

Wickets fell at regular intervals, but Shakib (43 off 64) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz stitched together 45 off 48 for the seventh wicket to help Bangladesh go past 200. It would still prove grossly inadequate.

Brief scores
Bangladesh 204 all out in 45.1 overs (Mahmudullah 56, L Das 45, S Hasan 43; S Afridi 3-23, M Wasim 3-31, H Rauf 2-36) lost to Pakistan 205-3 in 32.3 overs (F Zaman 81, A Shafique 68; M Miraz 3-60) by 7 wickets