Bangladesh start Asia Cup Super 4 with 7-wicket defeat

A reckless batting show caused Bangladesh's seven-wicket defeat to Pakistan in their Asia Cup Super Four opener today at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

After opting to bat first in a pitch, proved to be easier to bat, Bangladesh were bowled out for 193 in 38.4 overs, a total that Pakistan knocked off in 39.3 overs, reaching 194-3.

Opener Imam-ul-Haq hammered 78 off 84 with five fours and four sixes and Mohammad Rizwan was not out on 63, playing a key role in Pakistan's effortless victory.

Bangladesh batters' lack of ability to deal with the hostile pace also proved to be fatal. Speedster Haris Rauf was the wrecker-in-chief, claiming 4-19 and backed up well by fast bowlers Nasim Shah (3-34) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (1-42).

Mushfiqur Rahim made team-best 64 and captain Shakib Al Hasan hit 53. They shared 100-run for the fourth wicket to help Bangladesh save from further blushes.

Shakib as expectedly chose to bat first in a wicket where they put up 334-5 against Afghanistan, their highest total in overseas but against a top class bowling attack, which was rated one of the best in the world at this moment, they were left clueless.

The rot began in just second over, when Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the centurion of the previous match, chipped one straight at mid-wicket off Nasim for naught.

In doing so, Nasim kept his record of giving a breakthrough with new ball in each of his 13 ODIs.

Liton Das, replacing the injured and inform Najmul Hossain Shanto, gave the side a ray of hope with some classical cover-drive against Nasim and Shaheen.

However Shaheen undid him with extra bounce that Liton only could fend to the keeper Rizwan for 16 off 13.

Rauf got into act, crashing the stump of Towhid Hridoy (2) with 145 kph delivery before removed Naim Sheikh (20) with a return catch as Bangladesh were left to a tittering 47-4 in 9.1 overs.

Mushfiqur and Shakib appeared to revive the innings with calculative aggression with Shakib particularly looking in supreme touch.

He clipped pace bowling allrounder Faheem Ashraf through fine leg for a single to complete his 54th half-century and 97th overall in International cricket off 53 balls.

But a rash shot against the same bowler caused his dismissal as the partnership reached 100 exactly.

Mushfiqur Rahim meanwhile remained calm under pressure and Shamim Patwari sent the Bangladesh fans to delirium further, whacked Shaheen for a six over fine-leg.

But the joy was short-lived as Iftikhar Ahmed had him caught by Imam-ul-Haq at square leg for 16 with a quicker delivery.

Rauf came back as Mushfiqur charged him, only to get an edge which was taken comfortably by Rizwan behind the wicket.

In immediate next delivery he removed Taskin for duck to stand on a hat-trick. Shoriful though denied him the feat, Nasim Shah who hurt his shoulder during the fielding, cleaned up the tail to give the Pakistani batters and easy target to overhaul.

And Pakistan made no errors. Although Bangladesh new ball bowlers Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam bowled intelligently, Pakistan batters showed the patience unlike Bangladesh batters.

Left arm pacer Shoriful was particularly tough to deal with and he got the rewards for his superb line and length with the wicket of Fakhar Zaman (20).

Taskin got the better of in from Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who scored just 17, with a delivery that surprisingly kept low.

Imam and Rizwan shared 85-run for the third wicket to edge Pakistan closer to victory. Mehidy Hasan Miraz denied Imam a century but Rizwan helped the side race to the victory with Agha Salman batting on 12 alongside him.

Scores from the Super Four Asia Cup match between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Lahore on Wednesday:

Bangladesh 193 in 38.4 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim 64, Shakib Al Hasan 53; Haris 4-19, Naseem Shah 3-34)

Pakistan 194-3 in 39.3 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 78, Mohammad Rizwan 63 not out)
Result: Pakistan won by seven wickets