Kolkata, 31 October 2023: Pakistan triumphed over Bangladesh by seven wickets in the 31st match of the ICC Men’s World Cup at the Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata – a venue which has delivered Pakistan victory on several occasions in the past.
Pakistan openers Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman set their side up to a brisk start scoring a collective 128 runs. The duo managed to score 52 runs by the end of the Powerplay. Fakhar made a staggering 81 off 74 deliveries with the help of three boundaries and seven sixes – second-most number of maximums hit by a Pakistan batter in a World Cup innings. Abdullah made 68 off 69 balls and was sent back in the 22nd over.
Skipper Babar Azam lost his wicket to Mehidy Hassan Miraz in the 26th over after making nine off 16 balls. Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed succeeded in providing the finishing touches to the chase of Bangladesh’s target of 205, making 26 not out off 21 and 17 not out off 15 respectively.
Hassan Miraz claimed all three of Pakistan’s wickets.
Earlier, Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan was ducked at five balls by Shaheen Shah Afridi in the first over of the match. Litton Das managed to make a modest 45 off 64 before being caught by Salman Ali Agha off the bowling of Iftikhar Ahmed.
Mahmudullah was the only Bangladesh batter to score a half-century making 56 off 70 before conceding his wicket to Shaheen while Shakib Al Hasan managed to make 43 off 64 before being sent packing by Haris Rauf. Mohammad Wasim Jnr clean bowled all three of the batters he dismissed accounting for the scalps of Mehidy, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman.
Pakistan caught Bangladesh in its tracks in only 45.1 overs. Pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Jnr claimed three wickets each. Haris Rauf claimed two wickets while Iftikhar Ahmed and Usama Mir took one wicket each.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan won by seven wickets
Bangladesh 204 all out, 45.1 overs (Mahmudullah 56, Litton Das 45, Shakib Al Hasan 43; Shaheen Afridi 3-23, Mohammad Wasim Jnr 3-31, Haris Rauf 2-36)
Pakistan 205-3 in 32.3 overs (Fakhar Zaman 81, Abdullah Shafique 68; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 3-60)
Player of the match – Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)
