Pakistan crush Bangladesh

Kolkata : A superb all-round display by skipper Shahid Afridi saw Pakistan register an emphatic 55 run victory against Bangladesh who finished 146 for 6 chasing an imposing target of 202 in their World Twenty20 group encounter at the Eden Gardens here on Wednesday.

Pacer Mohammad Amir and Afridi who had earlier sizzled with the bat scoring 49 picked up two scalps each. For Bangladesh Shakib Al Hasan top scored with an unbeaten 50.

Chasing Pakistan’s total of 201 for 5, Bangladesh got off to a rocky start as Mohammad Amir jolted Bangladesh by bowling Soumya Sarkar (0) in the very first over. Sabbir Rahman and Tamim Iqbal then got together to build a brief partnership.

Rahman played the role of the aggressor hitting five fours en route to his brisk 25. Shahid Afridi then crashed his stumps as he played down the wrong line.

Afridi then picked up the dangerous Tamim (24) and left arm spinner Iman Wasim followed it up with the wicket of Mahmudullah (4) which left Bangladesh struggling at 71 for 4 in the 11th over.

Things got worse as the Bangladesh batsmen failed to even rotate the strike. In the last six overs they still needed 109 to win. It did not get easy for them thereafter as Pakistan speedsters Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan kept on bowling in very good areas.

Shakib tried hard but by then the game had slipped away from their grasp. Pakistan pegged back the rivals further by picking up Mushfiqur Rahim (18) and Mohammad Mithun (2) and then quite easily sealed the deal.

Earlier in the day, a brilliant 42-ball 64 by Mohammad Hafeez and a blistering Shahid Afridi (49 from 19 balls) ensured Pakistan posted an imposing total. Ahmed Shehzad was the other major contributor (52) as Afridi rolled back the years at the Eden Gardens. Taskin Ahmed returned figures of 32 for 2 for Bangladesh.

Brief scores: Pakistan 201/5 in 20 overs (Muhammad Hafeez 64, Ahmed Shahzad 52, Shahid Afridi 49; Arafat Sunny 2/32) vs Bangladesh 146/6 (Shakib Al Hasan 50 not out; Mohammad Amir 2/28, Afridi 2/27).