Result: Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 21 runs

Teams

Pakistan: Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, sad Shafiq, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Aizaz Cheema

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Nazimuddin, Jahurul Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam, Shahadat Hossain


Pakistan Innings

Pakistan began with Hafeez and Jamshed at the crease.

Hafeez who is in the middle of a bad patch as far his batting form is concerned seemed to start in a circumspect manner - Jamshed on the other hand looked at ease with his Bangladesh Premier League experience possibly coming in handy.

Both openers negotiated a very accurate Bangladeshi attack without any alarms, with Hafeez gaining confidence along the way and Jamshed looking very sold on the other end, putting up 135 in 167 balls. Hafeez got to his fifty after a string of low scores against England, and Nasir Jamshed followed suit.

Jamshed was the first wicket to fall as he was run out for 54 - his apparent lack of fitness is something for Julien Fountain to work on without a doubt!

Younis Khan walked in and seemed to be in a hurry to prove his critics wrong but a leading edge put all that to an end as he departed for 12. His dismissal initiated the much-dreaded collapse as Pakistan lost six wickets for just 38 runs.

Hafeez top edged Shahadat Hossain's short delivery and was caught at square leg for 89. Asad Shafiq followed in similar fashion as he attempted to play the hook shot and ended up holing out to deep square leg. He managed only 4 runs and it was all left for Umar Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq to ensure Pakistan did not undo the opening batsmen's hard work. They batted at a good pace, rotating the strike well in the batting powerplay. However, it was not long before Umar Akmal lost his cool as he gave his wicket away to Shakib Al Hasan in an attempt to slog sweep him in the final over of the powerplay. He scored 21 off 20 balls.

Akmal's dismissal brought the danger-man Shahid Afridi onto the crease. His stay proved to be short-lived as he was dismissed for a first-ball duck in a bizarre manner. Afridi played it loosely straight back to the bowler Shakib, who missed it on the first attempt but managed to get a hand onto it just as it was dying down. The ball bounced, hit the non-striker Misbah and rebounded, with Shakib completing the catch in the end.

Bangladesh bowled well as Pakistan managed only 22 runs at the expense of 4 wickets in the batting powerplay.

With 10 overs still left in the innings, wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed joined captain Misbah ul Haq in the middle. However, left arm spinner Abdur Razzak made sure the last recognised batting pair did not hurt Bangladesh as he cleaned up Misbah ul Haq for 8 in the 42nd over leaving Pakistan at 198 for the loss of 7 wickets. Then came in Umar Gul who struck five fours and a six in his 25-ball 39, thereby taking Pakistan's total past 250. Gul's brilliant cameo and his 53-run partnership with Sarfraz Ahmed was put to an end as Umar gul succumbed to a legcutter from Mashrafe Mortaza.

The ninth wicket partnership yielded 11 runs as Pakistan finished at 262 for 8 in 50 overs. Sarfraz Ahmed and Saeed Ajmal remained not out for 19 and 8 respectively. Shahadat Hossain picked up 3 for 53 in his 8 overs while Shakib Al Hasan bagged 2 for 41.


Fall of Wickets

135/1: Nasir Jamshed 27.5 ov
160/2: Younis Khan 32.5 ov
169/3: Mohammad Hafeez 34.4 ov
175/4: Asad Shafiq 36.3 ov
192/5: Umar Akmal 39.3 ov
193/6: Shahid Afridi 39.6 ov
198/7: Misbah-ul-Haq 41.2 ov
251/8: Umar Gul 48.6 ov


Bangladesh Innings

Tamim Iqbal and Nazimuddin came out to open the innings for Bangladesh while Misbah ul Haq tossed the ball to Mohammad Hafeez to open the bowling considering Tamim Iqbal's struggles against Hafeez in the bilateral ODI series in Bangladesh last year. The openers started cautiously, scoring just 19 runs off the first powerplay.

Both openers raised hopes of an unlikely victory with a 45 run opening partnership of 45 runs, including a massive 14 run over off Gul before Cheema intervened and ended Nazimuddins innings. Another 45 run partnership ensued but this time, it was Afridi who put an end to this partnership. Captain Mushfiqur Rehman could not last long and was Afridi's 2nd victim.

In the meantime, Tamim Iqbal, the man who had originally not been included in the Bangladesh squad was continuing with his customary aggression. He reached his 50 much to the delight of the large band of local support but Mohammed Hafeez who was having an excellent day/night came back to clean bowl Tamim - effectively ending all hopes of a Bangladesh victory.

Mahmudullah could consider himself unlucky as he was judged lbw to a ball from Hafeez.

With the required run rate climbing steadily to above 7 runs an over, the remaining Bangladeshi batsmen were beginning to find life very difficult

Nasir Hosain and Shakib Al Hasan then shared a brilliant stand to rekindle hopes of a victory. As the innings entered the 40th over with just 68 runs needed, the mood in the crowd was becoming distinctively upbeat. Pakistani bowling were unable to stop the steady flow of runs and as the victory target crept closer, Misbah and his men were looking at a shock defeat at the hands of the hosts.

With 39 runs needed off 39 balls, Umar Gul broke through the partnership by clean bowling Nasir Hosain and plunging the ground into a stunned silence.

Abdul Razzak came in next to help Shakib who was standing firm on 53 but Ajmal accounted for Razzak - delivering another blow at a vital point in the game.

Mashrafe Murtaza did not last long either as Saeed Ajmal accounted for him as well. Shafiul Islam walked in and his primary role was to give as much strike to Shakib as possible. As with his predecessors, he did not last long either - being trapped lbw to an inswinging yorker from Gul. Shakib ul Hasans vigil was finally ended by another beauty from Gul who seemed to be regaining his yorkers - possibly at the best time for Pakistan !


In the end, Bangladesh were unable to chase down this total - Tamim Iqbal, Shakib ul Hasan and Nasir Hosain the only ones to offer some stiff resistance and taking the game to the opposition.

From Pakistan, the spinners Afridi and Hafeez did most of the damage initially but 3 wickets from Gul and 2 from Saeed Ajmal helped seal the game when it looked as if Bangladesh would be able to sneak in a shock victory



Fall of Wickets

45/1: Nazimuddin 10.5 ov
90/2: Jahurul Islam 20.5 ov
100/3: Mushfiqur Rahim 22.3 ov
135/4: Tamim Iqbal 28.3 ov
135/5: Mahmudullah 28.4 ov
224/6: Nasir Hosain 43.3 ov
228/7: Abdul Razzak 44.1
230/8: Mashrafe Murtaza 44.6 ov
235/9: Shafiul Islam, 45.5 ov
241/10: Shakib Al Hasan, 48.1 ov

Summary

A reasonable start for Pakistan and tighter finish than what they had expected in their first game in Asia Cup but the batting, as usual, has a few questions to answer. In their defence, one could say that the pitches are difficult to score on but the fact remains the difficulties faced against Bangladeshi bowlers are a cause of concern as much sterner tests lie ahead when Pakistan face India and Sri Lanka.