Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Jr bag three wickets each
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets to help restrict Bangladesh to 204 all out in a World Cup match they need to win to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
Shaheen finished with 3-23 and was ably supported by Mohammad Wasim's 3-31.
Haris Rauf took 2-36 as Bangladesh struggled on a dry and slow Eden Gardens pitch where they bowled out 45.1 overs.
Bangladesh, who won the toss and bat, crossed the 200 mark only thanks to a solid 70-ball 56 from Mahmudullah, 45 from Liton Das and captain Shakib Al Hasan's 64-ball 43.
Shaheen struck on the fifth ball of his first over, caught opener Tanzid Hasan right in front of the wicket and then saw Usama Mir take a catch and bowl Najmul Hossain Shant (four) in his next over.
The first dismissal brought Shaheen his 100th wicket in his 51st one-day international, making him the 21st Pakistani bowler with a century.
Pace partner Haris made it 23-3 with the wicket of veteran Mushfiqur Rahim caught for five in the sixth over.
Between Mahmudullah and Liton, 79 runs were needed to bowl Bangladesh out for 102 when Iftikhar Ahmed broke the stand with a fine denial of Liton to catch a loose shot.
Liton hit six boundaries in a 64-ball knock.
Shaheen came back for his second spell to finish off Mahmudullah's knock, bowled him with a superb outswinger that hit top off stump.
Mahmudullah's knock had a six and six boundaries.
Shaheen joined Australian spinner Adam Zampa as the top wicket-taker in this World Cup with 16.
Shakib, who had had a poor tournament before Tuesday's match with just 61 runs in five innings, mistimed Rauf's hook and was caught by Agha Salman after hitting four boundaries.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz hit a six and a boundary to score a 30-ball 25 but Wasim removed him and then Taskin Ahmed (six) and Mustafizur Rahman (three) in consecutive overs as Bangladesh lost their last six wickets for 74 runs.
Pakistan made three changes from the side that lost to South Africa in Chennai, with Shadab Khan (concussion), Mohammad Nawaz and Imam-ul-Haq missing out.
They were replaced by Fakhar Zaman, Mir and Agha Salman. Bangladesh brought in Towhid Hridoy for Mahedi Hasan.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf.
Bangladesh: Litton Das (wk), Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam.
