Pakistan cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket win in a game that finished in the 33rd over of their innings. Fakhar Zaman (81) and Abdullah Shafique (68) starred for them with authoritative fifties against Bangladesh.
Fakhar Zaman made his comeback after five matches and made sure that he made the most of it as the left-handed batter scored 81 runs off 74 deliveries with three fours and seven sixes — with one of them being a 99-metre maximum.
Abdullah Shafique also scored 68 runs as he combined forces with Zaman to build a 128-run opening partnership that put the Green Shirts in a dominating position.
Mohammad Rizwan (26*) and Iftikhar Ahmed (17*) finished the game for the Green Shirts, who remained alive in their race to the semi-final of the World Cup.
Early on, a clinical effort by Pakistan’s pace battery saw the Bangladesh innings get folded for 204 in 45.1 overs. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Jr scalped three wickets each, while Haris Rauf returned with two scalps.
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Spinners Iftikhar Ahmed and Usama Mir combined to pick a wicket each. The proceedings kicked-off with Bangladesh winning the toss and opting to bat first at the Eden Gardens. Pakistan was given an early boost with Shaheen Afridi taking his 100th ODI wicket in the first over itself.
Afridi went on to take another after which Haris Rauf got the big wicket of Mushfiqur Rahim. Litton Das and Mahmudullah then produced some fight and added 79 runs for the fourth wicket but since then Bangladesh have lost wickets at regular intervals.
Litton fell for 45, while Mahmudullah slammed 56. Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraj produced some late fight and added 45 runs for the seventh wicket. Haris Rauf then got rid of Shakib for 43(64).
