Shehzad powers Pakistan to clinical win over Bangladesh
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DHAKA: Opener Ahmed Shehzad smashed an unbeaten 111 off 62 balls as Pakistan thrashed hosts Bangladesh by 50 runs to stay on course for the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 in Dhaka on Sunday.
The 22-year-old from Lahore hit 10 boundaries and five sixes in his first T20 international century to lift Pakistan to a commanding 190-5 after they elected to bat.
Bangladesh managed only 140-7 in reply in front of a sell-out home crowd of 25,000 at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium to suffer their third successive defeat in group two of the Super-10s.
With both Bangladesh and Australia out of the race, the winner of Tuesday's last league match between Pakistan and the West Indies will join India in the semi-finals from the group.
Shehzad, who reached his century off 58 balls in the 18th over, was caught off a Mashrafe Mortaza no-ball in the 19th after hitting the previous ball for a six.
The error proved expensive as Pakistan scored 44 runs in the last two overs, with Mortaza conceding 24 in the penultimate over.
Shehzad hammered 31 in an opening stand of 43 with Kamran Akmal (nine) that came off just 27 deliveries.
Bangladesh fought back by taking three quick wickets, two of them by left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, as Pakistan slipped to 71-3 by the 10th over.
Umar Akmal, Pakistan's hero against Australia when he made 94 off 54 balls, was dismissed by Mohammad Mahmudullah for no score.
Shehzad gave the innings a boost by smashing two sixes and as many boundaries in the 13th over bowled by seamer Ziaur Rahman, which cost 22 runs.
Shehzad put on 83 for the fourth wicket with Shoaib Malik (26) in the only substantial partnership of the innings, a lesson that escaped the Bangladesh batsmen.
The hosts, looking for a bright start, lost four top-order wickets in 9.1 overs with just 47 runs on the board.
Shakib Al Hasan delighted the crowd with a 32-ball 38 that included two sixes and two fours, before he top-edged a catch off seamer Umar Gul in the 15th over to effectively end Bangladesh's challenge.
Gul finished with three for 30 in four overs, while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal took two for 20.
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Comments (28) Closed
Mar 30, 2014 06:17pm
Sorry Bangladesh, somebody has to win in a game and we won. Good job Green shirts! BTW, did anyone noticed too few Pakistani flags in the ground? But that is understandable when the home team is playing. No hard feelings there.
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Mar 30, 2014 06:19pm
Congratulations to all Pakistanis & fans of Team Pakistan. Pakistan has to win again to reach the semis. Although Team Pakistan did win but not in a befitting manner. The other day India up-rooted BD. One player a match performance is not something that will help Pakistan get going in the coming matches. Hafeez should sit back & let other play. Repeatedly non performing captain is a liability that should not be risked. If at all he is allowed to play then he should bat at no 6 or 7. Afridi should come up up in order or his efforts are going in waste. Team Pakistan & the touring officials should really do some serious thinking before the next match.
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Mar 30, 2014 06:52pm
Bangladesh has been playing like school boys. Lot of drop catches, poor fielding and worst was the poor captaincy, that led to loose all matches.
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Mar 30, 2014 07:43pm
Kind of feeling sad for the Bangladesh cricket fans, BD team
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Mar 30, 2014 07:53pm
@Fiz:
No dear ---- did u see this in Asia cup. They are prejudiced against Pakistan and does nothave courage to support Pakistan team.
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Mar 30, 2014 08:36pm
@Masoud:
I disagree. Afridi should not even be in the side and certainly not bat before S.Maqsood.
S.Malik should be out.
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Mar 30, 2014 09:21pm
On tour selection committee including captain should DROP Hafeez. Enough of these shenanigans. As WI captain Sami put it, "talk is cheap". Hafeez is ALL talk last couple of months and NO performance at all. Fawad Alam would have been better choice, instead of Malik whose sell by date is long gone. Afridi should come up the order at number 5 or 6.
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Mar 30, 2014 09:26pm
The problem with Bangladesh is that their Ego/Ability ratio is approaching the stratosphere.
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Mar 30, 2014 09:38pm
Good to see Pak winning the game comfortably. A big morale booster.
Next one is a knock out game. Pak bowlers, simply by bowling according to your field you will force batsmen to make errors and wickets will fall automatically as long as catches are held, Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal ;) ...That is what India is doing.
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Mar 30, 2014 10:04pm
Cricket and Pakistan is all about LOVE.
Yes, we are the winner but I wish to congratulate Bangladesh (Former East Pakistan) for hosting such nice tournament. With lots and lots of LOVE from Pakistan.
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Mar 30, 2014 10:26pm
Not a very convincing win against such a weak team. Only silver lining is that Pakistan normally perform better when they are pushed to corner. Next match will be between two most unpredictable teams. Pakistan has edge over WI due to WI's inability to play spin bowling
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Mar 30, 2014 11:04pm
Good news. Let's see if he and his other teammates do not get complacent and emulate their performance against the next three possible 2014 T20 World cup matches including the grand final? Only time will tell.
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Mar 31, 2014 12:38am
Ahmed Shehzad is indeed the best batsman for pakistan after inzamam, the range of shorts he has is just great. Though he has not been able to convert his potential into results, but its just early days for him. Also, i think that he is hidding his true age.
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Mar 31, 2014 03:18am
So, at last an answer to many of his critiques which included Ramiz and few former players. At 22 he already has scored 7 centuries and 10 half centuries in 77 international innings which is a good record. So, Pakistan definitely can count on two young batters him and Umar for long period and may have to start looking for one reliable replacement for Misbah.
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Mar 31, 2014 04:25am
On April 1, 2014 winner of Pakistan / West Indies match will move into the semi final.
Both West Indies and Pakistan are capable of giving their best performance.
Close analysis of both teams reveals that West Indies has a slight edge over Pakistan.
Windies' main strength lies in their superb fielding and the ability to play under pressure.
Pakistan can make one or two changes by bringing in Sharjeel and Talha in place of
Shoeb Malik and Sohail Tanvir. Our spin attack looks fine and Hafeez needs to use them
cleverly by making frequent changes. Pakistani batsmen should be very careful in
playing against off spinner Sunil Naraine by avoiding reverse sweep and half hearted lofted
shots. The possibility of getting out is more in lofted shots because one miscued shot will
result in batsman's dismissal. In this format of the game, we are depending on Ahmed Shehzad and Umer Akmal as far as fast scoring is concerned. Good Luck to Pakistan Team.
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Mar 31, 2014 05:03am
After this amazing performance Ahmed Shehzad was given the "man of the match" award in the form of an ugly looking trophy that looked so disgusting that it resembled something that people who eat pan would use to spit in it. Shame on the organizers and BCB for making millions from this match alone and when it comes to giving something to the man of the match they can't even afford to give him a 1000 dollars. This was the first century by a Pakistani in a T-20 match and this was no way of honouring the guy for his marvellous achievement. PCB should lodge a strong protest with the BCB for being cheap intentionally. I was sincerely expecting at least a 1000 dollars reward for this young man but was brought to tears by this inhumane attitude of BCB. This is no way of appreciating a man for his knock that brought so much fun and excitement to the game of cricket. I am happy for Pakistan's win but really feel for this young lad for not being given his due share. That ugly looking piece of metal he got should be given back to BCB to keep for Bangladesh team in case they win a major tournament in the next century and we all know that they would never happen.
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Mar 31, 2014 05:16am
very happy Pakistan beat BD and we control our own destiny to win the chamionship now.. But very scare of facing two Indians, West Indians on Tuesday and our neighbor East Indians if we make it to Finals... can help but appreciate when I watch Gayle, Kohil and Dhoni play.
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Mar 31, 2014 08:30am
Shaheeno - Zabardast Batting my Ahmed Shahzad. Shoaib Malik has not performed in 5 matches, 2 warm up and the 3 fixtures. Neither has Kamran Akmal, in 3 tournament matches. He made 50 in warm up match, which has not consequences. No batting might when it matters. If Shoaib is not going to bowl - what is he doing in the team? Certainly Sharjeel is better batsman than Shoaib. What good is experience when he cant perform. I'll play this team against WI:
1. Sharjeel 2. Ahmed. 3. Kamran. 4. Umar Akmal. 5. Afridi. 6. Maqsood. 7. Hafeez. 8. Babar. 9 Gul. 10. Ajmal. 11. Junaid.
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Mar 31, 2014 11:58am
They Must give a chance to Sharjeel Khan. He is a Good Player. A player will never give a good performance unless you give a chance to him. So they should not waste the talent of Sharjeel.
Best of luck for next match.
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Mar 31, 2014 12:04pm
@Imran Quraish:
The same flamboyant game was played by Hales he chased the Big Target against Srilanka.
Don't you think so he deserved to be more than Ahmed shahzad ? What he was awarded for ? Nothing just the same man of the match trophy lol.
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Mar 31, 2014 01:37pm
@Masoud:
pakistan will simply loose by this order.when all the other players consume almost 18 overs wihotut Afridi batting. He should come one down in my view and sharjeel and shehzad as opener and no place for kamran in the side
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Mar 31, 2014 01:50pm
Ahmed Shahzad is the best player of Pakistani team and he is also hero. Now Pakistan will have to much more struggle against West Indies. Tomorrow Pak vs West will face each other and that match is so important for both teams and that match is key to reach in semi final. Peoples are keeping hope to win the match against West Indies and Pakistani are praying for Pak team now it will be seen all tomorrow what happen?
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Mar 31, 2014 02:47pm
It proves that the guy carries abundant talent and application. Like Virat Kohli, Shehzad can also take his game to the club of legends. Apart from improving himself as time advances, He should also meet the legends, discuss with them about the art of flawless batting and pacing the innings and expose himself to various conditions and variations of bowling. All the very best to the young talent. Let it lasts for years to come.....
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Mar 31, 2014 02:52pm
Pakistan is going to lose if the best batsmen for this format like afridi and even maqsood are coming in after kamran, malik and hafeez..
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Mar 31, 2014 03:39pm
@Imran Quraish:
I hope you would have the commonsense to understand that T20 World Cup is an ICC event and all trophies are given by ICC not BCB. And you don't need to worry about the existence of Bangladesh and better think about Pakistan. The way it is currently going, I am in doubt if it can last this century. If you are patriotic enough then find some way to fix your own country and don
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Mar 31, 2014 09:05pm
@Prabir:
the recent Pakistani win against India...was that convincing enough!
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Apr 01, 2014 01:58am
@Fiz:
No sign of Pakistani flags because Sheikh Hasina, the pro-indian puppet leader, banned fans from holding non Bangladeshi fans because she's insecure and is paid to be a Pakistan-hater. Banning of our holy national flag had little success for them because we still thrashed them like we always do. And we'll bring the Cup home God-willing.
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Apr 01, 2014 11:34pm
@Sonny Afridi:
Hahaha .Saw your performance today.......
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