Pakistan’s Cricket World Cup hopes ended, but they managed to end their campaign on a high with a 94-run victory against Bangladesh today at Lord’s.
After winning the toss and finishing on 315-9 in 50 overs on Friday, Pakistan needed to dismiss Bangladesh in their last group-stage match for an improbable seven runs or less to overtake fourth-place New Zealand and reach the semifinals.
Although Mohammad Hafeez began Pakistan’s bowling attack with a maiden over, Bangladesh reached 8-0 in the 2nd over at Lord’s.
New Zealand joined Australia, India and England in the last four.
Shakib Al Hasan’s glorious run this tournament came to an end at 32.1 overs after he was edged and taken out off Shaheen Shah Afridi’s ball. The all rounder has amassed seven consecutive half centuries, ESPN Cricinfo reported. Today, he scored 66.
At the end of 30 overs, the win predictor showed a 94 per cent chance at a win for Pakistan.
The Tigers lost their first player in the 6th over when Soumya Sarkar (22 off 22 balls) was caught by Fakhar Zaman off Mohammad Amir.
Tamim Iqbal (8 from 21) was the next to go, bowled out by Shaheen Shah Afridi in the 11th over.
Wahab Riaz then struck for Pakistan in the 18th over, bowling out Mushfiqur Rahim at 16.
Liton Das (32) followed courtesy Shaheen Shah Afridi’s ball, caught out by Haris Sohail at cover. Afridi struck again to claim Shakib Al Hasan’s wicket at the beginning of the 33rd over.
Pakistan’s innings
Sarfaraz Ahmed’s side earlier hobbled to a score of 315 as they wrapped up their innings against Bangladesh.
The huge score Pakistan required looked unlikely despite a 100-ball 100 from opener Imam-ul-Haq, who was out in rare fashion by hitting his own wicket two balls after reaching his maiden World Cup century.
He is the youngest Pakistani ever to make a World Cup ton.
No. 3 Babar Azam hit 96 in 98 deliveries, including 11 boundaries, four more than Imam.
Babar was denied his second century of the tournament when he fell to a yorker from Mohammad Saifuddin that trapped him lbw. He failed with his review and it left Pakistan at 180-2 after 32 overs.
Babar, 24, has now scored more runs (474) than any other Pakistani at a single World Cup, overtaking Javed Miandad, who bagged 437 runs at the 1992 World Cup.
Imad Wasim (43), in at number six, put up a valiant effort in bringing up the total before he was dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman at third man when two balls were remaining.
Before him, Wahab Riaz (2) and Shadab Khan (1) were dismissed within a ball of one another. Mohammad Amir (8) followed suit courtesy Mustafizur in the last over.
Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed retired hurt on 2 but bravely returned for the last ball of the innings and hit a single to deny Mustafizur his hat trick.
Mustafizur finished with 5-75 off 10 overs.
Briefed Scorecard
Pakistan: 315-9 (50 overs): Imam 100, Babar 96; Mustafizur 5-75
Bangladesh: 221 (44.1 overs): Shakib 64; Shaheen 6-35
