Colombo:Pakistan beat Bangladesh comfortably in the last league match to qualify for the Super Eights of ICC T20 World Cup.  

Pakistani opener Imran Nazir led from the front with a superb half century to help his team chase down an imposing 176 runs target with eight wickets in hand.

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Brief score:

Pakistan 175 for 2 (Nazir 72, Hafeez 45, Jamshed 29*) beat Bangladesh 175 for 6 (Shakib 84, Tamim 24, Arafat 3-25) by eight wickets

Match facts:

Toss: Bangladesh, elected to bat first

Bangladesh:

First powerplay: 61 runs, 2 wickets (0-6 overs)

4’s: 22, 6’s: 3

Pakistan:

First powerplay: 64 runs, 0 wickets (0-6 overs)

4’s: 19, 6’s: 5

Man of the match: Imran Nazir

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Nazir scored 36 ball 72 runs and was also involved in a record 124 runs opening partnership with his skipper Mohammad Hafeez. Nazir’s half century which came off just 25 deliveries is now the quickest in this year’s tournament. 

Bangladesh who flopped completely in the first match against New Zealand did an excellent job with the bat which gave them a chance to qualify for the next stage but then paid the price for their wayward bowling and sloppy fielding.

The story could have been had Abul Hassan not dropped Nazir in the second over of Shafiul Islam’s bowling. Nazir was on one and the dropped chance proved very expensive for them.

The aggressive right handed batsman decided to make use of the life he got and cut loose. He carted Bangladeshi bowlers all over the park and hit nine fours and three sixes in his innings. Nazir was supported ably by his partner Hafeez at the other end and he too played a crucial 45 runs knock of 47 deliveries. Hafeez’s innings was laced with six fours.

The openers however got out in the 14th over of the match, but that way too late for Bangladesh as they had already pocketed the match by then.

Nasir Jamshed and Kamran Akmal then got their act together and brought Pakistan home. Jamshed scored 29 of 14 deliveries including two four and as any sixes whereas Akmal hit four boundaries for his 15 balls 22 runs knock. 

Earlier Bangladesh batting first showed intent and riding on Shakib Al Hasan blitzkrieg innings piled up their highest total against the Asian giants in T20 cricket. Hasan scored a breezy 84 runs knock off 54 deliveries. His innings consisted 11 fours and a couple of huge hits over the boundary.

Tamim Iqbal got their innings off to a great start and hit 24 runs of 12 deliveries which included five fours.

Yasir Arafat was the pick of the bowler for Pakistan and returned with figures of 3-25 in three overs.

By Indian Sports News Network