Shehzad’s fifth ODI hundred gave Pakistan the foundation for their record chase in Mirpur. PHOTO: REUTERS
Pakistan’s Asia Cup campaign never ceases to amaze as after conceding a record score against Bangladesh, the men in green chased the runs down in the final over of the match to book their place in the tournament’s final set to be played on March 8.
Pakistan got off to a bright start in their hunt for 327 runs, opener Ahmed Shehzad (103) and Mohammad Hafeez (52) added 97 runs. Three wickets fell in quick succession but a 105-run stand between Shehzad and Fawad Alam (74) revived the innings.
After Shehzad and Abdur Rehman departed, Shahid Afridi (59) delivered a breathtaking assault, fresh from his heroics against India. Boom Boom clouted seven sixes and two fours to bring Pakistan right back in a matter of 25 balls. The finishing job was done by Alam in the company of Umar Akmal (14). The match went down to the last over after Alam was run out, while Akmal’s boundary with a ball to spare gave Pakistan another nail-biting triumph.
Bangladesh batsmen pulverise Pakistan
Earlier, Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim won the toss and opted to bat. The beleaguered hosts who were down and out before the match after losing to Sri Lanka and Afghanistan made five changes to their team.
Pakistan included Fawad Alam and Abdur Rehman in place of Sharjeel Khan and Junaid Khan respectively.
The hosts Bangladesh stunned the best bowling attack in the tournament with a breathtaking batting performance to record a 326-run total.
Openers Anamul Haque (100) and Imrul Kayes (59) added 150 runs for the first wicket, making full use of a dropped catch by Ahmed Shehzad in the first over of the innings.
The hosts went on to accelerate their score with shots all around the ground. Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (51) and Shakibul Hasan(44) blazed their bats in the death overs to take the score past the 300-run mark.
Pakistan bowlers had a session to forget. Saeed Ajmal conceded 61 in his 10 overs, while Umar Gul went for 76 runs from his 10 and Shahid Afridi was taken for 64 off his 10. Mohammad Talha was carted for 68 runs in a mere seven overs.
Aiming high: Rusty Rehman
Pakistan’s perennial bench warmer Abdur Rehman, who was a replacement for Junaid Khan, became the first bowler in One-Day International cricket to get a suspension from bowling in the innings, after delivering three consecutive waist high full-tosses at the start of his spell.
The ignominy that he faced in the 11th over of the match confined him to the outfield for the remainder of the innings. His bowling figures read (0-0-8-0), zero overs, zero maidens, eight runs and no wickets.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (43)
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@An Indian: We are ahead in nuclear and missile technology as acknowledged by international forums and also in providing toilet facilities to our population, these are few examples, numerous exist like we never had a chief minister who would organize and lead massacre of thousands of children, women and men belonging to minority population nor we burn alive visitors from neighboring countries in trains
@IndianTroll: I asked myself same question when I visited Indian news web sites yesterday and found numerous comments from indians abusing Islam and Muslims instead of commenting on the match when the news was about the match
The only sphere in which Pakistan can compete with India. Wish you all a happy cricket season.
@water bottle:
Is it true that other religions do not teach moderation?
@The Economist:
Simple answer bro. This is because every time Pakistan achieves success in anything, you people take out your claws to downplay our country in order to prove that Pakistan is a rogue nation. Pakistan has the right to give tit for tat... agree?
An Indian here. I hope Pakistan wins the cup. The prize money would double the GDP of your country.
Not sure why we're celebrating a victory over Bangladesh!
The fact that Bangladesh took on Pakistani bowling attack, arguably one of the finest in the world, and made 329 runs, their highest total in ODI, shows the fighting spirit of Bengalis. Even the Afghans restricted India, a much better batting side, to 250 runs. We should be more critical and if anything, I say, well done Bangladesh.
Nothing to take away from Afridi who fought gallantly, despite his injury, and rescued Pakistan. He is a modern-day gladiator.
Today is a day for raucous celebration. Not only did we win this ex-intra-country cricket match, we're also going to win the Fields medal because the great Pakistani Camillo De Ashraf has just solved the Navier Stokes equations. Juxtapositionally speaking, of course.
What a match !! Well played Pakistan...
Important thing for us is the fight shown by pakistani team .... that's good sign for pakistan cricket.
Doesn't Islam teach moderation?
Why all the excessive comments?
@syed: Well said bro :)
Yes i am an indian, Afridi dai do kashmir lai lo.
Congrats Team Pakistan!
Surprize surprize!
No inidian trolls, actually they are on break & will be seen again if God forbid, pakistan loose the final. But we are all with you team Pakistan.
Go & play your best game.
@Salman: No Indian Trolls !!!
Outstanding Victory by Green Shirts. These Victories makes any team famous in the Game and Yes Pakistan is undoubtedly superb famous in this Game. No so Called "Big Three"Can Side line this Biggest craziest Cricketing Nation.May Almighty Allah guide us the victory in Final of Asia Cup 2014. Ameen
Really, Where are the Indian trolls???? :D
@willed: LOL Good on ya! The guy and his family have lived in Karachi for a long time but you are welcome to claim him all you want. He is the pride of the whole country when he makes records but then everyone in Pakistan wants his blood when he gets out early as well.... I guess it's the nature of the beast, isn't it!!
Excellent performance by the boys in Green that needs to be applauded. The need is to be consistent and win the final. It must be remembered that on the day the team that plays better wins, and rightly so.
My request to all Pakistanis: Please be humble in the victory and let's all pray for the success in the final. Nothing rest matters.
what a match....well done to bangladesh as well. they really played well...
One man demolition squad = Sahibzada Shahid Ali Khan Afridi = (India + Bangladesh) x combined
Mr. Shahid Khan Afridi, you have again entertained your country men and the cricket lovers all over the world, in an amazing and a miraculous manner.
Mr. Afridi, this time you have defeated and sent back not one, but the hopes of the two teams out of the tournament. It looks you have become the nemesis (an agent or act of retribution or punishment) of these teams.
Never ever in the history of cricket, a one man demolition squad, has thrown a team twice out of the tournament, with such a thunderous performance, like you have done in a spate of 48 hours.
Mr. Shahid Khan Afridi, this war torn nation is really indebted to you for all the joys, smiles and happiness you gave us with your amazing talent and skills of the game.
May Allah Bless Pak cricket team with even more success and triumphs, in the days to come.
Our batsman played really well, & Afridi was just exceptional on the night! Amazing display of clean raw hitting, he pulverized Bangladeshi bowlers! Pakistan forever! Good luck for the final!
Her taraf hay dhoom ...Afridi boom boom...chahay kohli ho ya mushfiq....hogaey dono doom doom...Khushiyan manao yaro .....Aur masti mey jhoom jhoom...Meri baat ko easy lena...Mat hojana gloom gloom...Har taraf hay dhoom.. Afridi boom boom..
Fracking Bangalis
Well played Shahid and Pakistan again, that is 2 in 2. India are out of the competition and I am sad, but it's alright, this is just a game and we will come back stronger in the next competition. Best wishes to both Pakistan and Sri Lanka for the finals, may the best team win and make their country proud!
Actually Afridi is from Karachi not Kohat, grew up in my neighbourhood in gulshan iqbal@willed:
It looks like my Indian brothers are all on a break. Give them a few days and they will be back to their usual aggressive tone accompanied by facts, figures and jingoistic nationalism.
Where are the keyboard warriors from the eastern sector ? Strange to see ET so quiet over the last few days.
I am an Indian troll but my comments are never published ! This is my third comment on this post. It is a conspiracy by the agencies, I tell you !!
Her taraf hay dhoom ...Afridi boom boom...chahay kohli ho ya mushfiq....dono hain doom doom...Khushiyan manao yaro .....Aur masti mey jhoom jhoom...Meri baat ko easy lena...Mat hojana gloom gloom....
That is so mean of Pakistan to ensure that India got eliminated from the Asia Cup!! :-)
Pakistan bowling spells were nightmarish but thanks to Almighty Allah that He let afridi perform another electrifying knock to win this game. All the best to green shirts for defending the title. Go Greens Go!
Oops, well it Looks like somebody(Bharat) will be packing their bags, safe travel boys! No hard feelings, You might have the all the elements needed to win a competition, we just have one element that makes us what we are today, our unpredictability. Now don't go all high and mighty with us about why your capt was injured or how your players were young and led by another youngster with too much hormones(V. Kohli). Its just we don't really care about the cup, Y`all can have it if u want to, we will FedEx it to you. We just wanted to beat you, not because we hate you, but because your arrogance in everything and trolling us on issues which aren't even remotely related to you. Now go manage your own affairs and stop acting like some pompous pseudo intellectuals/keyboard warriors who vent their frustration on our issues by thrashing Pakistan. Peace! And again ET wont publish this!
Where are the Indian trolls?
By the way Dhoni not playing doesn't mean we forgot that he is involved in match fixing.
IPS officer Sampath Kumar, who had deposed before the Supreme Court committee probing the Indian Premier League match-fixing and betting scandal, has been suspended by the Tamil Nadu government. No reason has been given for this decision.
InshAllah soon the new ICC will be full of scandals.
The Beast of Kohat, afridi
wow Pakistan acutally pulled it off again like the Pakistan india game 2 days ago mashallah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And once again, no Indian trolls to be seen anywhere.
Well played Bangladesh too !! it really hurts and pleases me when you guys cry when you lose against Pakistan. Ha Ha ! I think Pakistan should include Bilawal Bhatti in place of Abdul Rehman and our team is complete. Bhatti is such a fine all-rounder.