PALLEKELE, SRI LANKA - Pakistan booked their place in the Super Eight stage of the tournament yesterday with an easy win over Bangladesh. Bangladesh, who had to win by 36 runs to advance to the next round on Net Run Rate, won the toss and chose to bat.
Bangladesh gave themselves some hope, with Shakib Al Hasan making an impressive 84 off 54 balls on his team's way to their total of 175-6. Openers Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Ashraful started well, managing 34 off 3.2 overs for the first wicket. Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim contributed to his team's total, putting on 25 off 26 balls, but it was Al Hasan who inspired Bangladesh's innings, hitting 11 fours and 2 sixes.
As spirited as Bangladesh's batting was, Pakistan's attack contributed in large part to the total they reached. A bowling lineup that can boast the three highest wicket takers in Twenty20 International history - Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, and Shahid Afridi - was unusually limp yesterday. Gul was the main culprit, taking no wickets and allowing 43 runs off his three overs. Ajmal, also wicketless, conceded 32 from four overs. Only Afridi looked anywhere near his normal standard, letting just 20 runs go in four overs and taking Mahmudullah's wicket, for a duck.
Pakistan, who needed 176 to win the match but just 140 to qualify for the Super Eight stage, started in style. Imran Nazir and Mohammad Hafeez put on a partnership of 124 for the first wicket, to set their team well on course for victory. Particularly impressive was Nazir, who managed the tournament's fastest 50, off just 25 balls.
The match could have been very different had Bangladesh taken their chances early on in the second innings. In the very first ball of the match, Hafeez, who went on to make 45, edged just out of reach of the slip. There was an even better chance at the beginning of the second over when Abdul Hasan could not hold on to Nazir at mid-on.
Granted second chances, the Pakistani opening pair went on to record the highest partnership of the competition so far. After both their wickets fell in quick succession, Bangladesh were allowed to hope before Jamshed and Kamran saw the match out with a partnership of 52 from 28.
Pakistan now find themselves in Group F of the next round, alongside South Africa, Australia, and India. In the next round they stand a decent chance, but their attack will have to recover from its disappointing display yesterday in order to contest. Pakistan can be backed at 6/1 (bet £1 to make £6 profit) with Ladbrokes to win the tournament outright.
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