Fakhar Zaman scored a rapid 81 as Pakistan raced to a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in the World Cup.
Set 205 to win, Fakhar and Abdullah Shafique put on 128 to help Pakistan surge to victory in 32.3 overs.
Shaheen Afridi earlier took his 100th one-day international wicket as he spearheaded a fantastic bowling effort to bowl Bangladesh out for 204.
Bangladesh’s sixth straight loss means they are the first side officially out of semi-final contention.
Tigers captain Shakib Al Hasan opted to bat first at the toss, but his side were soon in trouble as Shaheen trapped Tanzid Hasan lbw fifth ball to claim his landmark wicket.
Shaheen struck again in his next over; and when Haris Rauf removed Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh were 23-3.
Mahmudullah and Liton Das led the recovery, but the former was bowled by a beauty from Shaheen soon after reaching his half-century and wickets continued to fall at regular intervals before Mohammad Wasim took three in seven reverse-swinging balls to wrap up the innings.
After a frenetic start, Pakistan soon settled into their chase and Fakhar – recalled for his first game since Pakistan’s opening match against the Netherlands – showed his intent with a monstrous six over the leg side off Taskin Ahmed.
He proceeded to hit a further six maximums before he holed out off Mehidy Hasan Miraz 19 runs shy of a century.
By that stage, the result was a formality and Muhammad Rizwan hit the winning runs with 105 balls to spare. (BBC Sport)
The Pakis are such a high performing, energetic, aggressive in all departments of the game and highly competitive team at WC23 that justice will ensure that this team reaches the play offs and will contribute huge excitement to the remaining part of this great tournament. It seems to me that Pakistan is peaking a little too late in the batting and their tried and trusted batters such must step up to the plate and win all remaining fixtures to ensure qualification in the top four teams. I do hope that Afghanistan will not spoil their party by winning more games on their listing. Pakistan’s demolition of Bangladesh today was both surgical and convincing and I hope that this will a new plateau from which to launch their “exocets” by Afridi and other speed merchants of the white leather.
Tomorrow’s South Africa-New Zealand clash can prove to be a thriller in the making and I am hoping for a third century from Rachin Ravindra and more from Conway and Mitchell. But they have to first get pass Quintessential de Kock who is in the from of his career albeit just before forced retirement. Ngidi and Rabada are in for some licking from the Kiwis.