Shaheen Shah Afridi grabbed three wickets whereas openers Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique cracked half-centuries as Pakistan stormed to a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh on Tuesday to remain afloat within the race for a Cricket World Cup 2023 semi-final place. Shaheen’s 3-23 helped Pakistan dismiss Bangladesh for simply 204 in 45.1 overs earlier than Zaman’s 74-ball 81 and Shafique’s 69-ball 68 guided Pakistan over the road for the lack of three wickets with 105 balls to spare. The victory revived Pakistan’s outdoors hopes of reaching the semi-finals with six factors from seven matches.
They nonetheless must win in opposition to New Zealand (November 4 in Bengaluru) and England (Kolkata on November 11) and in addition hope different outcomes go their method if they’re to remain within the event.
In distinction, Bangladesh grew to become the primary aspect to crash out of the 10-team occasion with only one win from seven video games.
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“We are attempting to win our subsequent two matches and let’s have a look at the place we stand. We’ll take a variety of confidence into these matches,” stated Pakistan skipper Babar Azam who singled out Zaman for particular reward.
“We all know when Fahkar performs the best way he can for 20-30 overs it’s a completely different ball recreation. So we let him play his pure recreation and it’s good to see.”
Needing to enhance their internet run-rate, Zaman and Shafique cruised to 128 by the twenty second over.
Shafique hit 9 boundaries and two sixes as he made his third half century along with 100 within the event.
He fell leg-before to spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz whereas Azam holed out to the identical bowler for 9.
Zaman, who recovered from a knee harm to switch Imam-ul-Haq in one among three adjustments for Pakistan, smashed seven sixes and three boundaries, his sixteenth ODI fifty, however first after 11 innings.
He holed out to Miraz within the twenty eighth over however Mohammad Rizwan (26) and Iftikhar Ahmed (17) remained undefeated to finish the modest chase.
Miraz completed with 3-60, the one vivid spot in Bangladesh’s bowling.
“Two extra matches hopefully we are able to bounce again. The followers supported us and are behind us whether or not we’re doing nicely or not,” stated Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan.
“We’ve got to offer one thing again to them to allow them to smile.”
Earlier, Shaheen and fellow quick bowlers Mohammad Wasim (3-31) and Haris Rauf (2-36) ripped via Bangladesh.
The tempo trio have been too sizzling to deal with as Bangladesh struggled on a dry and sluggish Eden Gardens pitch.
Bangladesh, who gained the toss and batted, solely handed the 200-mark due to a stable 70-ball 56 from Mahmudullah, 45 by Liton Das and Shakib’s 64-ball 43.
Shaheen struck with the fifth ball of his first over, trapping opener Tanzid Hasan proper in entrance of the stumps after which noticed Usama Mir clutch on to a flick off Najmul Hossain Shanto (4) in his subsequent.
The primary dismissal gave Shaheen his a centesimal wicket in his 51st one-day worldwide, making him the twenty first Pakistani bowler with a century of wickets.
Tempo accomplice Haris made it 23-3 with the wicket of veteran Mushfiqur Rahim, caught behind for 5 within the sixth over.
It took a 79-run stand between Mahmudullah and Liton to hold Bangladesh to 102 when Iftikhar broke the stand with a smooth dismissal of Liton, caught off a unfastened shot. Liton hit six boundaries in his 64-ball knock.
Shaheen got here again for his second spell to complete off Mahmudullah, bowling him with an outstanding outswinger that hit the highest of the off stump. Mahmudullah’s knock had a six and 6 boundaries.
Shaheen joined Australian spinner Adam Zampa as the highest wicket-taker at this World Cup with 16.
Shakib, who had a poor event with simply 61 runs in 5 innings forward of Tuesday’s recreation, mistimed a hook off Rauf and was caught by Agha Salman after hitting 4 boundaries.
Miraz hit a six and a boundary to attain a 30-ball 25 however Wasim eliminated him after which Taskin Ahmed (six) and Mustafizur Rahman (three) in successive overs as Bangladesh misplaced their final six wickets for 74 runs.
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