Babar Azam-led Pakistan ended their losing streak in World Cup 2023 with a seven-wicket win over underperforming Bangladesh at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The win helped Pakistan hang on to the slim thread of hope that they can still qualify for the semi-final stage. Making the obvious change by bringing back Fakhar Zaman worked in their favour as he repaid the faith with an 82-run knock after a clinical bowling display from the pacers. Pakistan chased down the total with 105 balls to spare to boost their net run rate (NRR) as well. They are now placed fifth in the points table with three wins from six games. Meanwhile, this was Bangladesh’s sixth defeat which has put their chances of qualifying for Champions Trophy 2025 in jeopardy as well.
Earlier, Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and opted to bat first. Once again, the top order disappointed. Shaheen Afridi dismissed Tanzid Hasan four a five-ball duck. In his next over, he got the wicket of Najmul Hossain Shanto. Haris Rauf conceded a few boundaries and then got the wicket of Mushfiqur Rahim in the sixth over. Litton Das and Mahmudullah got the innings back on track, Mahmudullah justified his promotion up the order with a 79-partnership for the fourth wicket. Das became a victim of a soft dismissal. He handed an easy catch to Agha Salman off part-time off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed's bowling. He scored 45 runs from 64 balls including six fours.
Shakib played too many dot balls when he arrived at the crease. In the 26th over, Mahmudullah completed his 28th ODI fifty from 58 balls. Shakib hit his first boundary off the 21st ball he faced. Afridi was brought back into the attack and he got the wicket of Mahmudullah with a stunning delivery. He scored 56 runs from 70 balls including six fours and a six. In the next over, Towhid Hridoy hit Usama Mir for a six and then got out the next ball. In the 37th over, Shakib broke the shackles with three consecutive fours. Mehidy Hasan Miraz hit Mir for a six in the 38th over.
Rauf came back into the attack and provided breakthrough. Shakib was surprised by a bouncer. He scored 43 runs from 64 balls including four fours. In the 44th over, Mohammad Wasim Jr. struck twice to dismiss Miraz and Taskin Ahmed. In his next over, he wrapped up Bangladesh's innings with a beautiful yorker to Mustafizur Rahman. Bangladesh got bowled out for 204 in 45.1 overs.
Pakistan's run chase got off to a nervy start as Abdul Shafique escaped a few run-outs because Bangladesh fielders could not hit the stumps. In the fifth over, Zaman hit Taskin for a massive six over deep square leg. Shafique got going with a couple of boundaries as well. Zaman gave the same treatment to Miraz with a six in the eighth over. After 10 overs, Pakistan were 52 for no loss. Zaman played an upper-cut off Shoriful Islam for a six in the 12th over. In the 13th over, Shafique hit Mustafizur for three fours. Zaman continued the onslaught and hit Mehidy for another six.
In the 18th over, Shafique reached his half-century from 56 balls. On the next delivery, Zaman hit Taskin for a towering six to bring up his half-century from 52 balls. Shafique hit the first six of the innings off Taskin in the 20th over. The partnership was broken by Mehidy in the 22nd over as he missed the sweep shot. The opener scored 68 runs from 69 balls including nine fours and two sixes. Babar entertained the crowd with a beautiful cover drive but that was it. Meanwhile, Zaman hit a couple more sixes. Babar got out to Mehidy in the 26th over for a single-digit score.
Mohammad Rizwan got off the mark with a sweep shot for a boundary. In his next over, Mehidy got the better of Zaman who got caught by Hridoy in the deep. His 74-ball 81 was laced with seven sixes and three fours. Rizwan and Iftikhar looked in a hurry to finish off the run chase. In the 33rd over, Rizwan finished off the run chase with 17.3 overs to spare.
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