Bangladesh vs Pakistan – 1st ODI Asia Cup – Match Recap
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 held nerves to start their Asia Cup campaign on a winning note against host Bangladesh – claiming a narrow win by 21 runs at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, on March 11, 2012.
Electing to field first, the home side looked in command when they had reduced their opponents to 198 for 7 however, could not restrain the power-hitting of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 were left to chase 263 – a feat they have never achieved in the ODIs.
However, still the home side made a better fist against the likes of Gul, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 to post 90 for 1. The loss of a few quick wickets restored equilibrium but the inform Shakib-Al-Hasan kept his team in the hunt before the prowess of the Men In Green bowlers gunned them down in the death overs.
Fresh from their debacles against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898.
Both started slowly – keen on providing their side with a solid platform. The first 10 overs yielded just 36 runs before both openers gathered pace in the first bowling PowerPlay. Hafeez finally managed to put in a decent outing after his troubles at UAE, while his new partner, alongside, also helped by constructing a solid innings of his own.
The platform had been set, the batting debate somewhat taken a back seat and Pakistan seemed in control before all changed in the next hour of play – or one could say their unpredictably came to the foil for the umpteenth occasion. Bangladesh got the reprieve they so badly wanted - http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jamshed-c66276’s 54-run endeavour was brought to an abrupt end, following a mix up between the wickets.
It was now the turn of the hosts to make inroads and they did that with proficiency. The rout was instigated by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Asad-Shafiq-c46208 (4) and Hafeez (89), with both men falling via badly executed pull shots.
The slump was then perfected by the left-arm spin of Shakib after he took out http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Abdur-Razzak-c41688, who ran in from deep square leg.
Afridi’s 1-ball stay was intriguing to say the least after his defensive lunge forward provided Shakib with a caught and bowled opportunity. The left-armer got enough hand behind the ball to scoop it up and take it on the third attempt after the delivery rebounded off http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972.
The skipper’s wicket completed the collapse as he was cleaned up by Razzak. From being 135 for 0, the Men In Green were restricted to a seemingly disastrous 198 for 7 before it was their time to find reprieve as Gul’s bludgeoning cameo, where he hit five fours and a six, helped his side to post 262 on the board.
Continued….
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