Easy for Pakistan

Chris Dhambarage from Pakistan

Pakistan scored a consolation ten wicket victory over Bangladesh in their six nation Asia Cup limited overs tournament last Super Four match worked off under lights at the National Stadium in Karachi yesterday.

The match of course turned out to be of academic interest because Sri Lanka and India had already qualified to play in Sunday's final. Nevertheless Pakistan produced a fine all round performance to dismiss their opponents for a modest 115 runs from 38.2 overs.

Their openers Salman Butt and Nasir Jamshed then completed their task with an unfinished stand of 116 runs from 20 overs. The former struck nine boundaries while the latter hoisted two sixes and five boundaries during his unbeaten knock of 52.

Earlier Bangladesh were shot out for a mere 115 runs from 38.2 overs after skipper Mohammad Ashraful had won the toss and elected to bat first. But his decision certainly back fired as Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals before being dismissed for the lowest total at this venue.

This has been a tremendous turn of events compared to the earlier matches of the tournament which have been all high scoring encounters. But this time Pakistan put up a superb performance on the field as they ran through the opposition through some penetrative bowling.

The main damage was done by the opening bowler Abdur Rauf who snapped up three wickets during a hostile eight over spell. Rauf playing only in his second Asia Cup tournament match showed a great amount of control and accuracy to finish with the best figures of three for 24.

Even then it was Ifthikar Anjum who stole the limelight for his remarkable spell of ten overs. The right arm fast bowler made it a memorable outing by sending down astonishing six maidens an effort which equalled the record for a Pakistani in an one day international. (Karachi, Friday).

BANGLADESH INNINGS

Tamim Iqbal c Younis b Rauf		26
Nazimuddin c Malik b Rauf 		 3
Mohammad Ashraful c Misbah b Rauf	14
Raqibul Hasan c Iftikhar b Tanvir  	 0
Mushfiqur Rahim run out			15
Alok Kapali c Younis b Iftikhar		17
Mahmudullah c Misbah b Malik		11
Farhad Reza st Sarfraz b Ajmal		 3
Mashrafe Mortaza lbw Iftikhar		 1
Abdur Razzak b Ajmal			 9
Shahadat Hossain not out		 0

EXTRAS: (LB-4, W-11, NB-1)		16
TOTAL: (all out, 38.2 overs)		115
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-6 2-47 3-48 4-49 5-73 6-92 7-99 8-100 9-113, 10-115
BOWLING: Tanvir 7-0-31-1 (nb1), Rauf 8-1-24-3 (w3), Iftikhar 10-6-20-2 (w2), Ajmal 8.2-0-19-2 (w5), Malik 5-0-17-1 (w1)

PAKISTAN INNINGS
Salman Butt not out			56
Nasir Jamshed not out 			52

EXTRAS: (B-1, LB-4, W-3)		 8
TOTAL: (for no wicket, 19.4 overs)	116
BOWLING: Mashrafe Mortaza 3-0-9-0 (1w), Shahadat Hossain7-1-40-0 (1w), Abdur Razzak 7-0-42-0 (1w),
	 Mahmudullah 2-0-15-0, Farhad Reza 0.4-0-5-0.
Result: Pakistan won by 10 wickets.
Player of the match: Abdur Rauf (Pakistan)