LAHORE: Pakistan secured a convincing victory over Bangladesh in the Super 4 match of the Asia Cup 2023, held at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The Pakistani team successfully chased down the modest target of 194 runs set by their opponents, delighting the packed stadium with their performance.
The Gaddafi Stadium witnessed an electrifying atmosphere as enthusiastic spectators gathered to cheer on the national squad in what was the final match of the Pakistan leg of the Asia Cup tournament.
Pakistan’s innings, during their comfortable run-chase, witnessed the loss of three wickets. Opener Imam-ul-Haq emerged as the top scorer for the winning side, contributing 78 runs off 84 balls, which included nine boundaries. He was ably supported by Mohammad Rizwan, who contributed 63 runs to the team’s total.
The Pakistani innings faced a moment of concern when opener Fakhar Zaman was dismissed by Shoriful Islam after scoring 20 runs. Skipper Babar Azam was also bowled out by Taskin Ahmed’s low-bounced delivery, leaving Pakistan at 74-2. However, Rizwan’s partnership with Imam-ul-Haq, which added 85 runs, proved crucial in guiding Pakistan to a comfortable victory.
Pakistan’s next Super 4 match is against arch-rivals India, scheduled to take place in Colombo on September 10 (Sunday).
Bangladesh Batting Against Pakistan
In the first innings, Bangladesh faced a formidable challenge from the Pakistani pacers. The home side asserted dominance from the start of the match, securing their first wicket on the seventh ball of the game.
Naseem Shah provided the breakthrough by dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who had played a pivotal role in Bangladesh’s previous match against Afghanistan, on his very first delivery of the innings. The early wicket set the tone for Pakistan’s strong performance.
Bangladesh faced continuous setbacks, and their score stood at 47/4 in just 9.1 overs. However, a resilient partnership between the experienced duo of Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan allowed Bangladesh to post a respectable total.
Shakib Al Hasan, who contributed 53 runs, was removed by Faheem Ashraf, while Rahim, who scored 64, was dismissed by Haris Rauf. In a dramatic turn of events, Rauf followed Rahim’s dismissal by removing Taskin Ahmed on the very next delivery. The final two wickets for Pakistan were claimed by Naseem Shah, solidifying Pakistan’s dominance in the match.
Notably, Pakistan and India had previously qualified from Group A, while Bangladesh and Sri Lanka secured their places in the Asia Cup Super 4 from Group B.
Pakistan Squad
Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf
Bangladesh Squad
Mohammad Naim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shamim Hossain, Afif Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud
