MULTAN, April 16: Despite Shakib Al Hasan’s fighting century, Pakistan backed by a blistering opening stand, continued their unbeaten run against Bangladesh after winning the fourth One-day International by seven wickets at the Multan Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday.

The hosts, after the Multan victory, took a 4-0 lead in the five-match series with the final game to be held in Karachi on Saturday.

Set 211 to win, Pakistan raced to the target, posting 212 for three with 33 balls remaining.

A fine half-century by top-scorer Salman Butt (74) and useful contributions from unbeaten Mohammad Yousuf (37, 55 balls), Bazid Khan (51, 90 balls) and Kamran Akmal (36) paved the way for a comfortable victory.

Openers Salman and Kamran, who slammed centuries in the last match, laid a strong foundation for a big win as they gave a flying start of 97 in 16.2 overs.

Kamran hit an entertaining 35-ball 36 including six fours and a six, before he was caught at long-off by Mashrafe Mortaza off Saqib.

Salman, batting with complete command and looking set to score his second consecutive hundred, was run out for a 84-ball 74. However, the batsman was himself to blame for his downfall.

At 117, on Salman’s call Bazid Khan came out of his crease for a single. But Salman was left stranded as Abdul Razzak’s throw from the cover area hit the non-striker’s end as Salman was short of his crease. The left-hander smashed eight boundaries.

After Salman’s departure, Bazid and Yousuf added 82 for the third wicket. Bazid, soon after completing a snail-paced half-century, mistimed a shot off Razzak and was caught by Shahadat Hossain at mid-off with a total of 199. Yousuf with new man Fawad Alam then overhauled the target.

Earlier, Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Mortaza, the number 10 batsman, on a lively track, added 97 runs to rescue Bangladesh from a disastrous 109 for 8, as the tourists eventually finished at a moderate 210 all out with five balls to spare.

After Bangladesh lost seven wickets for 84 in 19.4 overs, it seemed hard for them even to survive the bulk of 50 overs quota, as Ashraful’s decision of batting first backfired.

However, Shakib, who top-scored with 75 in the third ODI at Lahore, again stood his ground to save his team from total destruction.

As Shakib (108), along with Mortaza (38), gradually gained confidence to post a respectable total, Pakistan’s bowling attack looked mediocre for some moments, after the bowlers lost the advantage of early breakthroughs.

The bowling line-up consisting of Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Sohail Khan, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik couldn’t break the hard-earned partnership.

Shakib’s valiant knock ensured Bangladesh crossed 87, their lowest total against Pakistan made at Dhaka in the 2000 Asia Cup.

With intelligently taken singles Shakib and Mortaza extended the total to 150 in 37.3 overs.

With pressure slightly shifting to Pakistan and Bangladesh slowly beginning to come back, Shakib also completed his second ODI century, his first against Pakistan, studded with eight fours and coming off 115 balls.

The three-figure mark was also the first Bangladesh ODI century against Pakistan.

With steady batting, they pushed the total to 200 off 46.2 overs. At 206, Mortaza, trying to hit Asif hard, was caught by Fawad Alam at deep long off for a precious 38 that came off 67 balls and contained a four. Trying to slog in the last overs, Shakib was also caught by Fawad off Sohail for a 120-ball 108.

Earlier in the innings, Umar destroyed Bangladesh’s top-order with three quick wickets, reducing them to 16 for four in 5.5 overs.

Umar sent Junaid Siddique, playing the first match of the series, back and Aftab Ahmed, both for duck.

In-form opener Tamim Iqbal (10) fell to Asif, who returned to the international stage after six months due to an elbow injury.

Umar then accounted for the out-of-form Ashraful (4) as the tourists were left reeling at 16-4. Sohail made it 45-5, removing Mahmudullah, before Shakib with Farhad Reza (14) enabled Bangladesh to cross their lowest ODI total of 76, they have recorded twice, one each against India and Sri Lanka.

Sohail (3-30) and Umar (3-48) were the main wicket takers.

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