Pakistan breaks the losing streak, beats Bangladesh by 7 wickets - hopes of semi-finals alive

PAK vs BAN: Pakistan has finally broken the losing streak in the World Cup-2023. In the match played in Kolkata on Tuesday, it defeated Bangladesh by 7 wickets. Before this match, Pakistan had lost in four consecutive matches. This was his seventh match in the tournament. This is his third victory. He has 6 points in seven matches.

Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bat first. On the basis of brilliant bowling by Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Wasim, Pakistan bowled out Bangladesh for 204 runs in 45.1 overs. Afridi and Wasim took 3-3 wickets. Pakistan achieved the target of 205 runs by losing 3 wickets in 32.3 overs. Mohammad Rizwan remained unbeaten on 26 and Iftikhar remained unbeaten on 17 runs. Fakhar Zaman scored the highest 81 runs.

Great performance by Pak bowlers

Thanks to the fast bowling attack led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan bowled out Bangladesh for 204 runs in 45.1 overs. Shaheen took three wickets for 23 runs from one maiden in nine overs, due to which he became the fastest bowler to take 100 wickets for Pakistan in ODIs. Mohammad Wasim Junior then sent the tail batsmen to the pavilion and took three wickets for 31 runs with one maiden in 8.1 overs due to which the Bangladesh team could not even play the full 50 overs.

Shaheen may not be able to bowl at the same speed as before after recovering from a knee injury, but this 23-year-old bowler achieved swing by bowling clever variations on the flat pitch of Eden Gardens. Shaheen LBWed Tanjid Hasan with extra bounce and swing, which was his 100th wicket in ODIs. In this way, he became the fastest bowler for Pakistan to take 100 wickets by defeating Saqlain Mushtaq, two innings before him.

Then Usama Mir took a brilliant low cap while diving at forward short leg, due to which Shaheen took two wickets in two overs. If Mahmudullah had not played a responsible inning of 56 runs (six fours, one six) in 70 balls and had not made a 79-run partnership with Liton Das (64 balls, 45 runs), the Bangladesh team would have collapsed even before this score. Would have gone.

Bangladesh had lost two wickets for six runs in 2.4 overs, after which Haris Rauf dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim and reduced the score to 23 runs for three wickets. After this, Mahmudullah took over the innings, who was sent to bat at number five. After removing Shaheen from bowling, the Pakistani team failed to create pressure from both sides, which gave Liton and Mahmudullah a chance to recover quickly.

Both of them hit two fours on Wasim Junior while Mir also hit a four in the first over. At this time Bangladesh team was looking comfortable but off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed (1 wicket for 44 runs) got an important wicket for his team by dismissing Liton. Shaheen then bowled Mahmudullah with an excellent ball. Bangladesh captain Shakibul Hasan tried to build a partnership but was out on the ball of Haris Rauf (2 wickets for 36 runs).

Pakistan's playing eleven: Abdullah Shafiq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (captain), Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Agha Salman, Shaheen Afridi, Usama Mir, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Haris Rauf.

Bangladesh's playing eleven: Liton Das, Tanjeed Hasan, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Tauheed Hridoy, Mehdi Hasan Miraj, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam.