Pakistan makes an excellent comeback, beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets

Pakistan made an excellent comeback on Tuesday after four consecutive defeats and beat Bangladesh by seven wickets in the 31st match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India.

Fakhar Zaman went immersive by making his comeback after five matches as the left-handed batter scored 81 runs off 74 deliveries, including three fours and seven sixes.

Abdullah Shafique at the other end also scored 68 runs to build a 128-run opening partnership with Fakhar that steered the Green Shirts in a dominating position.

Skipper Babar Azam got out for nine runs, getting caught by Mahmudullah at long on while trying to hit a six.

Mohammad Rizwan (26*) and Iftikhar Ahmed (17*) finished the game for the Green Shirts.

Following today’s victory, Pakistan’s hopes for making it to the event’s semi-final remain alive.

Pakistan’s pace attack restricted Bangladesh to 204 runs in a must-win World Cup match.

Bangladesh opted to bat first after winning the toss and went unimpressive against Pakistan’s pace attack as they bowled out in 45.1 overs.

Shaheen finished with 3-23 and was ably supported by Mohammad Wasim with 3-31.

Shaheen Afridi struck early as he removed Tanzid Hasan for a duck and Najmul Hossain Shanto for four. At this point, Litton Das tried to pick up the pace for Bangladesh with a flurry of boundaries against Haris Rauf.

However, Haris Rauf got the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim to nick one behind the wicket.

Haris Rauf respectively in the next five overs, leaving Bangladesh at 23-3 in 6 overs.

Litton Das and Mahmudullah managed to put together a 79-run partnership, helping their side to post crucial runs against the deadly pace attack of Pakistan.

However, Das lost his wicket to Iftikhar Ahmed as he was getting closer to his fifty. Mahmudullah followed his counterpart soon enough as he was bowled out by Afridi for 56 runs.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan contributed 43 runs while Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 25.

However, their efforts at the lower order were not enough to take their side to a competitive total and the entire Bangladesh team was sent back to the dressing room at the score of 204 runs.

Pakistan will now face New Zealand in another must-win match on November 4 in Bengaluru.

The Green Shirts have two more matches to play in this mega event.

Playing XIs

Bangladesh: Litton Das (wk), Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam.

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf.