Bangladesh could not reap the fruits of their highest-ever ODI total as Pakistan upset the Tigers by 3 wickets at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday to complete their biggest run chase and seal a spot in the Asia Cup final.
The previous chase record for Pakistan in ODI cricket was 322 runs against India in Mohali.
Replying to Bangladesh’s highest ODI total of 326 runs, Pakistan reached their target making 329 runs for 7 in 49.5 overs with a ball to spare in a tensely packed match.Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who played a vital role for their dramatic win against India in the last match, today (Tuesday) came to bat in number seven and played a hurricane innings of 59 runs off just 25 balls with two fours and seven sixes to be adjudged the man of the match.
He completed his 50 off just 18 balls to touch the joint second-fastest fifty in ODI Cricket.
In the 4th wicket stand, Ahmed Shehzad paring with Fawad Alam contributed 105 runs in 15.1 overs to carry the team total from 105 to 210 runs in 38.3 overs.
Earlier in the opening stand, Shehzad partnering with Mohammad Hafeez made 97 runs in 20.4 overs.
Ahmed Shehzad made the ground work for Pakistan victory contributing 103 runs off 123 balls with 12 boundaries and an over boundary before being bowled by spinner Abdur Razzak while number five Fawad Alam hammered 74 runs off 70 balls hitting four fours and two sixes.
Mohammad Hafeez scored 52 runs off 55 balls with eight boundaries before he was caught by Imrul Kayes off a Mominul Haque delivery.
Bangladesh were almost out of the race when spinner Shakib Al Hasan conceded 20 runs in his 8th and the team’s 43rd over with Shahid Afridi scoring all the runs featuring three huge sixes.
Mominul Haque grabbed two wickets for 37 runs while Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan and Abdur Razzak took one wicket each conceding 47, 53 and 72 runs respectively.
Earlier, a fine century by Anamul Haque guided Bangladesh to make their highest-ever total in ODI cricket scoring 326 runs for 3 in 50 overs.
Bangladesh crossed three hundred marks in ODI cricket history on five more occasions -– 320 and 313 runs against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2009, 309 against New Zealand in Fatullah in 2013, 301 against Kenya in Bogra in 2006 while 300 against UAE in Lahore in 2008.
Batting first after winning the toss in the day’s match, Bangladesh made their historical innings against Pakistan featuring a century by Anamul Haque (100) and three half centuries by opener Imrul Kayes (59), one down Mominul Haque (51) and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (not out 51).
Going to bat first, the Bengal Tigers made a solid foundation of their innings contributing 150 runs in 28.4 overs in the opening stand by Anamul Haque and Imrul Kayes.
Anamul Haque Bijoy hammered his 2nd ODI century amid thunderous cheers from the home crowd scoring just 100 runs off 132 balls featuring six fours and four sixes before he was caught by Ahmed Shehzad off a Saeed Ajmal delivery. Anamul hit his maiden century against West Indies in Khulna in December, 2012.
Another opener Imrul Kayes contributed 59 runs off 75 balls including five fours and two sixes before he was caught by Umar Akmal off a Mohammad Talha delivery.
In the 2nd wicket stand, Anamul Haque pairing with one down Mominul Haque added 54 runs to carry the team total to 204 for 2 in 39.1 overs. Mominul Haque quick-fired 51 runs off 47 balls with six boundaries.
Captain Mushfiqur Rahim partnering with world famed all rounder Shakib Al Hasan scored 77 runs in the 4th wicket stand enabling Bangladesh to score their highest total in the ODI cricket.
Two down Mushfiqur Rahim played an entertaining innings of not out 51 runs off just 33 balls hitting eight boundaries while Shakib Al Hasan played a hurricane innings of unbeaten 44 runs of just 16 balls, featuring six fours and two sixes.
Pakistan meritorious spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed two wickets for 61 runs in his 10 overs spell while Mohammad Talha took one wicket for 68 runs in seven overs.
Earlier, Bangladesh suffered two consecutive defeats in their ongoing Asia Cup Cricket losing to World champion India by six wickets and conceded an embarrassing 32-run defeat against new face Afghanistan, both at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah. – UNB
