Pakistan vs. Bangladesh – A Review

Bangladesh had an uphill task to beat Pakistan that too with quite a margin to advance into the Super 8s. Over the years, Pakistan has dominated Bangladesh in all the forms.

Bangladesh posted a win very early in the piece against Pakistan after that it has been a one sided affair. Before today, Bangladesh has received some serious hammering in 37 straight matches through the hands of Pakistan. It is an unmatched dominance in the history of the game. Australia has enjoyed the supremacy over Pakistan in the test cricket in last decade or so but it also flattens in front of the Pakistani history against Bangladesh.

It has become bit of a mental block from the Bengal boys when it comes to cricket against Pakistan. Bangladesh started-off refreshing in the pursuit of a herculean task at their hands. Both Tamim and Asfrahful took no time to get in the bowling but Ashrahful threw his wicket away by trying one short too many like so often in his career. Tamim was severe on Tanvir, he did not spare any loose ends. Shakib the main stay of Bangladesh kicked-off his innings with two delightful fours through the point region and after that there was no looking back for him.

On a perfect paced wicket, it was a showcase of a high class stoke-making from the wily all-rounder. The Pakistani fast bowlers bowled poorly, Tanvir was the culprit in bowling too wide and Gul pitched it too shot too often. Shakib just absolutely took Gul to the cleaners, pulling him easy for sixes and fours over mid-wicket quite handsomely. Hafeez also missed a trick by not bringing Ajmal after a big start in the power play. Afridi was the lone man in front of the Bengalis onslaught. He bowled an excellent spell in the middle of the run feast. Arfat also bowled some good overs but he never got support from the fielders, Tanvir’s horrible show in the field continued as he dropped a lollypop of a catch. Ajmal was also neutralized by the Bangladeshi batmen to some extent.

Bangladesh posted 175 as a result of free flowing innings. Pakistan had a record run-chase on their hands to avoid the humiliation against Bangladesh. Imran Nazir took it all on his shoulders to keep the game on the green end. He executed every short in the book on the featherbed like wicket for the short making. Bangladeshi bowlers were also culprits of bowling too short and Nazir thrived on it big time. Hafeez is proving to be an excellent foil for the free flowing Nazir. He once more anchored the innings masterly. The game was slipping away through the hands of Bangladesh and Pakistan deprived them of any hope to make it to the next level. Even the spinners dragged down the length very often with Nazir in that kind of form; it needed no invitation to blast them to the boundary. Nazir scored a blistering 72 in just 36 balls. Though, both openers went back in the 15th over but the game was almost in the bag till then. Kamran and Jamshed took no time to get into the act.

Jamsheed did his reputation no harms by stoking the ball nicely around the both sides; he is really oozing with the confidence. Kamran himself is in the red-hot form, very fresh from the superb 92 against India in the warm-up. Both eased their way to the win in the penultimate over. The top four batsmen are in the punishing form but the fast bowlers are really struggling. The much celebrated bowling line-up went for plenty in the two games; certainly a repair work is required from the management going into the Super 8s. It was a valiant effort from Shakib with the bat but once more the bowling lacked the fire power.