LAHORE, April 13: Fabulous centuries by makeshift opener Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt enabled Pakistan to beat Bangladesh by 23 runs despite a spirited performance from the tourists in the third One-day International at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday. Pakistan seized an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five match series.

Kamran and Salman gave Pakistan a high-flying start of 151, as Pakistan despite a batting collapse in the middle, managed, to set a mounting winning target of 309, 14 runs less than the first game at the same venue on Tuesday.

In reply, Bangladesh, who displayed a much improved performance before were restricted to a total of 285 for seven in 50 overs, their best ever total against Pakistan. The previous best was 244. Their innings revolved around top-scorer Saqib ul Hasan (75), opener Tamim Iqbal (63) and Aftab Ahmed (42).

After losing opener Shahriar Nafees for a duck, Tamim with Aftab put on 90 runs in the second-wicket partnership to take the total to 113. But both went one after the other as Bangladesh were in trouble at 125-3. First Tamim was run out as a result of a brilliant fielding by Fawad Alam, who narrowly saved a boundary and then threw the ball right into Kamran Akmal’s hand to send back the opener for a well-played 69-ball 63, with eight boundaries. Aftab was caught by Kamran off Sohail Tanvir. Later, Saqib kept up the chase, despite the required run-rate being 12.5 in the 40th over. Shahid Afridi, in the first over of his second spell claimed two wickets to reduce Bangladesh to 250-7. First he got Farhad Reza stumped for 13 and then accounted for well set Saqib for 75, his 7th fifty. Saqib cracked six boundaries off 73 balls. Earlier, Rao Iftikhar clean bowled Mahmudullah (24) to claim his 50th ODI wicket.

Requiring 59 runs in the last four overs with Dhiman Ghosh and Masrafe Mortaza on the crease, Bangladesh were left to 30 runs in the last over.

Afridi finished with two for 48.

Earlier, brilliant hundreds from openers Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt propelled Pakistan to a formidable score of 308 despite a middle-order collapse. Kamran, elevated as opener after Nasir Jamshed’s pullout due to a wrist strain just before the start of the match, was aggressive from the start and really set the pace for the big total. Pakistan posted 51 in the 10th over and raced to 85 in the 15th.

Mauling all Bangladesh bowlers in a stand of 151 off 23.5 overs, the pair put Pakistan in a comfortable position before Kamran, soon after completing his 4th century in the 83rd ODI, was clean bowled by off-spinner Mahmudullah.

His quickfire knock of 100 off just 81 balls, was laced with 16 fours and one towering six. Kamran’s departure triggered a batting collapse which saw the hosts losing three more quick wickets and slumping to 187 for four in 30.3 overs.

Bazid Khan, who came in for Younus Khan, was unluckily run out soon afterwards. He came out of his crease after hitting the ball to mid-on for a possible single but found Salman returning to the non-striking end, which left the youngster stranded at mid-pitch as Dhiman Ghosh removed the stumps off an accurate Mashrafe Mortaza’s throw.

Seasoned Mohammad Yousuf then gifted his wicket to left-arm spinner Saqibul Hasan and at 187, Boom Boom Shahid Afridi fell cheaply, getting out caught at deep long-on by Mortaza off Saqib.

Salman with captain Shoaib Malik then steadied the innings, putting on 80 for the fifth-wicket as Pakistan recovered to be in a commanding position once again. Salman soon completed his century off 106 balls with 11 fours.

At 267, Malik left while trying to lift Reza for a six. He was adjudged leg before wicket for a 45-ball 33, without any big stroke. Talented Misbah-ul-Haq (10) again fell cheaply to make it 297 for six. Salman was then also sent back, caught by Ghosh off Mortaza for a career-best 127-ball 132. His career’s 5th century was studded with 15 boundaries. Pakistan finished at 308-8 in 50 overs.

Mortaza (2-47) and Saqib (2-50) were the key wicket takers for Bangladesh.

Pakistan made three changes for today’s match, recalling Bazid, medium-pacer Sohail Khan and Fawad Alam in place of Younus, Umar Gul and Nasir. Bangladesh brought in medium-pacer Shahadat Hossain.

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