Bangladesh crashed out of the World Twenty20 after going down to a -run defeat to Pakistan in their Group 2 tie of the Super 10 on Sunday. Chasing a huge 191, the hosts managed just 140 for 7 in their 20 overs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The result also takes Australia out of contention as well and they will now play India in a dead rubber at the same ground in a short time. Bangladesh’s last hope went with Shakib Al Hasan (38) cross-batted a short ball off Umar Gul high in the air in the 15th over with the required run rate up around 20. A flurry of wickets to Pakistan spinners saw the Tigers struggling at 53 for 4 after 10 overs. Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (2) played down the wrong line to a straight, flat one and was trapped leg-before by Zulfiqar Babar, to leave his side tottering at 47 for 4 in the 10th over. Shamsur Rahman (4) nicked Shahid Afridi back to Kamran Akmal, the Pakistan wicket-keeper, to return to the pavilion. Anamul Haque, who has looked like the Tigers’ best batsmen so far in the tournament, perished getting a leading edge to give Saeed Ajmal a low return catch for 18. Tamim Iqbal (16) came down the track to chop Umar Gul on to the stumps. Electing to bat first, Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad scored Pakistan’s first century in the format to power his team to a formidable 190 for 5. The opener scored blistering 62-ball 111. He laced his innings with 10 boundaries and five sixes. His century off 58 balls was the second of the tournament after England’s Alex Hales. Shehzad cracked a flurry of boundaries to get his side off to a flying start. He was particularly harsh on Bangladesh paceman Mashrafe Mortaza, who went for 63 runs in his four overs, with no wickets to show. Shehzad scored his fifty off 30 balls. He and Shoaib Malik added 83 runs off 50 balls for the fourth wicket for Pakistan. Shehzad top-edged Shakib Al Hasan, when on 80, and was lucky as the ball landed safel . He was again lucky when he was caught off a no-ball by Mashrafe. Opener Kamran Akmal (9) swept Abdur Razzak off the pads and Ziaur Rahman took a great catch at short fine leg. Umar Akmal went for a duck to a thick edge off Mahmudullah to the third man where Tamim Iqbal took a diving catch. Skipper Mohammed Hafeez (8) went down the track, was beaten by Abdur Razzak’s flight and skipper Mushfiqur Rahman calmly took the bails off. Shoaib Malik’s dismissal was a repeat of what happened to Hafeez; this time the batsman was stumped off Shakib. Shahid Afridi was sent back in the last over off Al-Amin Hossain when he mistimed his shot to be caught at long-on. In the very next ball, Nasir Hossain dropped Shoaib Maqsood (0) to add to the host’s misery. But Shehzad’s charge brought up the 100 for Pakistan in 12.4 overs. Abdur Razzak bagged two wickets conceding 20 runs in his four overs. Al-Amin, Mahmudullah and Shakib picked up a wicket each. Ziaur Rahman conceded 22 runs in his only over. – bdnews24.com
