Sabbir Hossain :
An unbeaten century by Ahmed Shehzad powered Pakistan to earn an easy 50-run victory over Bangladesh in their Group 2 match of the ICC World Twenty20 Cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.
Ahmed Shehzad, the opener of Pakistan led his team from the frontline. He remained unbeaten with 111 runs. His 62-ball terrific innings was decorated with five over-boundaries and 10 boundaries. Shehzad fulfilled his maiden Twenty20 International century playing 58 balls. Ahmed Shehzad was adjudged the Man of the Match for his match-winning innings.
Electing to bat first, Pakistan piled up a mammoth 190 runs for the loss of five wickets and then they restricted Bangladesh to 140 for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. Bangladesh lost their early four wickets only for 47 runs.
Then Shakib Al Hasan and Nasir Hossain fought back contributing together 44 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Shakib Al Hasan was caught at the point by Umar Akmal off Umar Gul when Bangladesh’s score was 91 for the loss of five wickets.
Shakib Al Hasan made a fine 38 from 32 balls featuring two fours and two sixes, while Nasir Hossain hit a respectable 23 off 19 balls.
Besides, Anamul Haque, Mahmudulah Riyad, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Tamim Iqbal scored 18, 17 (not out), 17 (not out) and 16 runs respectively.
Umar Gul grabbed three wickets instead of 30 runs, while Saeed Ajmal claimed two wickets for 20 runs.
Besides, Shahid Afridi and Zulfiqar Babar took one wicket apiece.
Earlier, Pakistan made a modest start scoring 43 for the loss of one wicket.
Later, Ahmed Shehzad and Shoaib Malik built remarkable partnership. Shehzad and Shoaib Malik put on together 83 runs in the fourth wicket stand before Shoaib was stumped by Mushfiqur Rahim off Shakib Al Hasan when Pakistan’s total was 154 for the loss of four wickets.
Shoaib Malik hit a notable 26 runs from 23 balls including two fours, while Shahid Afridi cracked 22 off nine balls with two sixes and one four before Afridi was caught at the long-on by Ziaur Rahman off Al-Amin Hossain when Pakistan’s score was 188 for the loss of five wickets.
Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak earned respect from the Pakistani batsmen. The 31-year old spinner bagged a pair of wickets at the cost of 20 runs.
Besides, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad and Al-Amin Hossain took one wicket each for 21, 24 and 37 runs respectively.
