Pakistan are 91-Four after 23 overs towards Bangladesh in pursuit of their 240-run goal within the essential Asia Cup 2018 Tremendous 4 conflict on the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The begin to their run chase started within the worst doable method as they misplaced opener Fakhar Zaman and star batsman Babar Azam within the first two overs.
Together with his workforce in additional than a spot of trouble, skipper Sarfraz promoted him up the order and performed a number of first rate strokes, elevating the hopes {that a} captain’s knock could be within the retailer.
Nonetheless, he unnecessarily chased a large Mustafizur Rahman supply and nicked it to the keeper. At this level, catastrophe mode was effectively and actually on.
Not for the primary time within the event, Shoaib Malik walked in figuring out that if the workforce has to win, he’d must anchor the innings.
After 5 overs, Pakistan had been 21-Three and in determined want for Imam and Malik to supply a stable stand for an opportunity to maintain their facet within the event.
A pair quiet overs later, Malik got here alive within the eighth, dispatching Mustafizur Rehman for 2 fours to alleviate some strain earlier than runs dried up once more. On the finish of 10 overs, Pakistan had been 37-3.
Pak v Ban: In disaster, Imam given the chance to redeem himself
Pak v Ban: In disaster, Imam given the chance to redeem himself
Imam took some danger within the 13th over, coming down the monitor and hitting it over mid-off for a much-needed boundary. Nonetheless, that was an anomaly fairly than the pair’s SOP on the time, as each had been content material with choosing up singles.
When the groups got a drinks break on the finish of 15 overs, Pakistan had been 56-Three and in want of 184 runs with 7 wickets in hand. The required run-rate was additionally a really manageable 5.25.
On the ultimate ball of the 17th over, Imam glanced one to the fine-leg boundary to deliver up his 50-run partnership with Malik.
Bangladesh captain Mortaza held on to a blinder of a catch within the 21st over to ship hazard man Malik again within the dug out.
Bangladesh innings
After Bangladesh gained the toss and opted to bat first, Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar opened their innings, whereas Junaid Khan and Shaheen Afridi shared the brand new ball for Pakistan.
Junaid, taking part in his first match of the event, made nearly prompt impression as he eliminated Sarkar for naught within the third over.
Mominul Haq walked in to affix Das however his keep on the crease did not final lengthy as Afridi bowled him out within the very subsequent over the fourth of the innings.
Junaid tripled Bangladesh’s troubles by shattering Das’ stumps with a peach of a supply within the fifth over, on the finish of which the rating stood 12-3.
With three wickets having tumbled in three straight overs, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mohammad Mithun went on the defensive to plug the lea**k. After 10 overs, the Tigers had been 27-3.
Runs had been comparatively simpler to come back by within the subsequent 5 overs because the Rahim, Mithun pairing combined singles and doubles with boundaries now and again. By the top of 15 overs, Bangladesh had been 55-Three and considerably recovered from the triple setbacks.
Rahim, who had scored a powerful 144 within the victory of Sri Lanka earlier within the event, was rising in confidence, simply coping with no matter Pakistani spinners hurled at him.
With 20 overs gone, Bangladesh had been 83-3, and Pakistan had all however squandered the impression of the three-wicket break earlier within the innings.
Pakistan bowling confirmed some indicators of resurgence between overs 20 and 25 but it surely didn’t reap a wicket. On the midway mark, the Tigers had been 107-Three and positively again within the recreation.
The 26th over noticed Rahim deliver up his half-century in addition to his 100 partnership with Mithun.
Hasan Ali was reintroduced into the assault within the 27th over and he ought to have had his breakthrough when he pressured Rahim to nick one to the slip cordon, which sadly for him was empty as his skipper had eliminated the catcher previous to that over.
Junaid was additionally introduced again as Sarfraz fished for the wicket his facet badly wanted however as soon as once more absent was the attacking intent because the slip cordon was empty, though it might even have had one thing to do with Junaid’s bowling angle.
On the finish of the 30th over, the Tigers had been 138-3, and hoping for a complete in extra of 270.
The Bangladeshi batters introduced up their 150 within the 33rd over bowled by Afridi, who was the third pacer reintroduced into the assault by Sarfraz seeking the elusive breakthrough.
Hasan lastly broke Rahim, Mithun’s 144-run partnership within the 34th over when he had the latter taking part in an unpleasant hoick. He was caught by Hasan off his personal bowling, having contributed 60 off 84 balls.
New man Imrul Kayes drove Afridi for a 4 within the 35th over, on the finish of which Bangladesh had been 163-4. However the southpaw didn’t final lengthy as Shadab had him trapped in entrance of the wickets within the 37th over; he made simply 9 runs.
The dual wickets dried up the runs for Bangladesh, who had been now hoping that the jaded Rahim bats until the top.
At 99, Rahim was on the verge of finishing his second ton of the event when Afridi had him caught behind within the 42nd over, giving him a heartache to go together with his aching legs.
The tempo trio of Junaid, Afridi and Hasan had been lastly bowling as much as their reputations as Bangladesh had been faultering. By the top of 45 overs, the Tigers had been 221-6.
Junaid picked up his third wicket of the day within the 46th over, dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz as captain Mashrafe Mortaza walked in. The comeback child struck once more within the 48th over, this time unsettling the stumps of Mahmudullah.
Within the 49th over, Mortaza launched Hasan for a six over midwicket. That proved to be the innings’ first and solely most as Bangladesh misplaced each their remaining wickets in the identical over, ending with 239 all out.
Line-ups
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imamul Haq, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (c, wk), Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Bangladesh: Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mominul Haque, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Mehidy Hasan, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman