Lahore: After Haris Rauf and company's exhilarating show, Pakistan batsmen led by Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan put together a calculated chase to secure a seven-wicket victory against Bangladesh in the first Super 4 match in Asia Cup at Gaddafi Stadium here on Wednesday.
Chasing a 194-run target, Pakistan found themselves at a precarious situation to score freely against Bangladesh seamers in the powerplay who bowled with precision and conceded only 37 runsm grabbing the prize wicket of Fakhar Zaman (20).
However, Pakistan batsmen opened up thereafter and did not look back. Imam-ul-Haq emerged as a shining star, playing a pivotal role with a well-crafted 78 runs to his name. His innings was marked by a combination of grace and grit, as he anchored the innings and led the charge for Pakistan.
In a partnership worth 85 runs, Imam-ul-Haq found a solid ally in Mohammad Rizwan, who delivered an outstanding performance, remaining unbeaten on 63. Rizwan's composed batting ensured that Pakistan cruised past the finish line with authority, underlining their dominance in the game.
Pakistan's victory was comprehensive, as they triumphed by 7 wickets with a whopping 10.3 overs to spare. Their unbeaten streak in the Asia Cup 2023 remained intact, sending a resounding message to their rivals.
Earlier, despite Shakib Al Hasan and Mishfiqur Rahim's century run partnership, Bangladesh folded their innings at 193.
Down 47/4 in just 9.1 overs, the two Bangladeshi legends plugged the gap. They embarked on a face-saving mission, denying Pakistan bowlers to make further inroads. They exhibited remarkable composure and dogged determination by notching up a well-paced half centuries along the way.
Just as it seemed Bangladesh was back on the track, the fortunes divorced them again. Shakib, in an attempt to up the ante, was caught at deep midwicket. This marked the beginning of a catastrophic collapse for Bangladesh, as they lost their last six wickets for a mere 46 runs.
Bangladesh could have been happy to go past 250 runs as it was a momentous occasion with both teams met for the first time in the ODI format after a hiatus of four long years. But, they could not come out with flying colours in the ultimate showdown.
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first, and pretty soon Pakistan seamers unleashed an extraordinary display of skill during the powerplay. They picked up four crucial wickets. It was a remarkable start that had the Bangladeshi batting lineup reeling.
Haris Rauf, the leading wicket-taker of the tournament at this point, produced a masterclass, finishing the day with impressive figures of 4 wickets for just 19 runs in his 6 overs.
In doing so, he not only decimated the Bangladeshi batting but also achieved a significant milestone, crossing the 50-wicket mark in ODIs in record time (3rd fastest for Pakistan), matching the legendary Waqar Younis.
Naseem Shah also played a pivotal role, wrapping up the Bangladesh innings with three crucial wickets to his name. Thanks to the heroic efforts of Pakistan's seamers, Bangladesh found themselves limping to a total of only 193 runs on the scoreboard.
As the teams swap roles and Pakistan prepares to chase, the stage is set for the second innings.
As Pakistan basked in the glory of this victory, they knew that the most intense battle of all awaited them in their upcoming clash against arch-rivals India, scheduled for this Sunday.
The cricketing world eagerly anticipates this colossal showdown, as the biggest cricketing rivalry reignites.
With their stellar performance against Bangladesh in the rearview mirror, Pakistan will undoubtedly carry the momentum and confidence into the much-anticipated clash with India, setting the stage for an electrifying encounter that will capture the hearts of cricket fans across the globe. (UNI)