Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Not much of a surprise but it's exactly what Pakistan wanted. Bangladesh were outplayed thoroughly again and are now officially out of the semi-final race. That race is heating up with two of the favourites taking on each other. See you for New Zealand vs South Africa tomorrow. For now, it's goodbye from me, Ekanth, on behalf of my report-writing co-commentator Danyal Rasool and our scorers, Chandan Duorah and Ranjith P.

Babar Azam: Credit to the boys, the way they played in all three departments. We know how well Fakhar plays when he's going. Good to see him do it. We are trying to win our remaining matches and see where we stand. This win hopefully gives confidence in the coming matches. Shaheen started well with the ball. After 15-20 overs, they built a partnership. But our main bowlers struck. Main thing was our bowlers hit good lengths and took wickets. Thanks to the fans for supporting me and my team.

Shakib Al Hasan: Not enough runs. Wicket was really good. We lost early wicket. We had partnerships but not big ones that'd allowed us to go big in the last ten. We should've bowled better too. Pakistan did well in the first ten overs, credit to them too. We have to think about my batting order. I was batting early, didn't score runs. My confidence was low too. In this stage, changing too many things seems difficult. We are trying to force things but it isn't working. At this moment, we have to perform together, which is not happening. We are looking for answers but aren't getting it. Everywhere we go, fans come to the ground and are always behind us. They are our biggest strength.

Fakhar Zaman, POTM: Time off helped. I practised a lot after the Asia Cup. I felt good in the camp. I wanted to score big but, you know, it's cricket. I was talking to Abdullah that I'll see off the first four overs and then hit sixes regardless of how the pitch will play because I know I can and I know my role. NRR was in our mind. After 100, we were looking to finish the game before 30 overs. After too many failures, I was just looking to score the first 30 and struggling. Hopefully, I'll make it big in the coming games.

8:35pm Fourth time Pakistan have won a men's ODI World Cup game with over 100 balls to spare. It was as good as it gets for them with bat and ball. It was topped in the chase by Fakhar Zaman, returning to the side and to form, with a 74-ball 81 with three fours and seven sixes. He worked his way into his innings but then there was that monstrous six off Taskin, where he effortlessly hoicked a length ball like it was off a spinner. Shafique offered able support. The openers put on a 128-run stand at just over a run a ball to break the back of the chase and allow the batters coming in to coast along. Mehidy was the only bowler among the wickets, his full quick dart beat Shafique's sweep and had him lbw. Fakhar and Babar went for big shots and were caught in the outfield. But that didn't stop Rizwan and Iftikhar from hurrying through to the end.

jo: "With this loss bangladesh has been eliminated from the worldcup"

32.3
1
Shakib Al Hasan to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run, Full on off, pushed in front of point and Pakistan remain alive in the tournament! A convincing seven-wicket win with 105 balls to spare
32.2
0
Shakib Al Hasan to Mohammad Rizwan, no run, Overpitched on off, driven to cover.
32.1
1
Shakib Al Hasan to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, Makes room and works the fullish ball following him, to long-on. 80ks. Scores tied

Around

END OF OVER:
32 | 5 Runs | PAK: 203/3 (2 runs required from 18 overs, RR: 6.34, RRR: 0.11)

  • Iftikhar Ahmed16 (14b)
  • Mohammad Rizwan25 (19b)
  • Mehidy Hasan Miraz9-0-60-3
  • Shakib Al Hasan5-0-28-0

Saurabh: "Pakistan just missed the opportunity to get a positive NRR."

31.6
1
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, Length on off, 82ks. Spins in to off. Punched to long-on
31.5
2
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Iftikhar Ahmed, 2 runs, Length on the pads, worked to the right of deep-backward square
31.4
0
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Iftikhar Ahmed, no run, Fullish ball on the pads, tries to sweep it hard and fine. Misses, deflects off the pads behind
31.3
0
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Iftikhar Ahmed, no run, Wide on a fullish length, cut hard to cover
31.2
1
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run, Fullish ball on leg, spins in and is nudged across to square leg. Pakistan's 200 is up
31.1
1
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, Shapes to heave across the line. Gets a length ball at 81ks on leg stump, changes his shot, finishes with a late chip to long-on

END OF OVER:
31 | 7 Runs | PAK: 198/3 (7 runs required from 19 overs, RR: 6.38, RRR: 0.36)

  • Iftikhar Ahmed12 (9b)
  • Mohammad Rizwan24 (18b)
  • Shakib Al Hasan5-0-28-0
  • Mehidy Hasan Miraz8-0-55-3
30.6
1
Shakib Al Hasan to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, Length on fourth, stays leg side and cuts to deep point
30.5
0
Shakib Al Hasan to Iftikhar Ahmed, no run, Length at the stumps, worked back to the bowler
30.4
4
Shakib Al Hasan to Iftikhar Ahmed, FOUR, Sits up outside off, it's fullish but at 78ks, Ifti could wait for it to rise to the top of its bounce and lash it through cover.
30.3
1
Shakib Al Hasan to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run, Goes back and punches the length ball to long-off
30.2
1
Shakib Al Hasan to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, Slow and wide, cut to deep point
30.1
0
Shakib Al Hasan to Iftikhar Ahmed, no run, Makes room and plinks a cut to point

END OF OVER:
30 | 6 Runs | PAK: 191/3 (14 runs required from 20 overs, RR: 6.36, RRR: 0.70)

  • Iftikhar Ahmed6 (4b)
  • Mohammad Rizwan23 (17b)
  • Mehidy Hasan Miraz8-0-55-3
  • Mustafizur Rahman7-0-47-0

Asif: "Let the "If and But" Party begin" Great name for a song

29.6
1
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, Ifti's showing Mehidy all the stumps. Length ball lands on middle and leg, spins in and is clipped off the back foot to deep midwicket
29.5
1
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Mohammad Rizwan, 1 run, Wide on a fullish length, Rizwan slaps it to deep point
29.4
0
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Mohammad Rizwan, no run, Tad short. Spins in to cramp Rizwan, works it back to the bowler
29.3
0
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Mohammad Rizwan, no run, Full on off, blocked to the bowler
29.2
4
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Mohammad Rizwan, FOUR, Length on fifth. Arm ball. Rizwan makes room and cuts it withoug great power, calls for two but it's too far to the right deep point to cut it off
29.1
0
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Mohammad Rizwan, no run, Fullish ball comes in towards fourth, worked to the bowler

END OF OVER:
29 | 14 Runs | PAK: 185/3 (20 runs required from 21 overs, RR: 6.37, RRR: 0.95)

  • Iftikhar Ahmed5 (3b)
  • Mohammad Rizwan18 (12b)
  • Mustafizur Rahman7-0-47-0
  • Mehidy Hasan Miraz7-0-49-3

Eymir: "100 wickets for Miraz, you missed that" Thanks

Drinks

28.6
4
Mustafizur Rahman to Iftikhar Ahmed, FOUR, Slower one is lumped over extra cover. It was full and in Ifti's arc, his front foot took a stride forward and then drove through fiercely

Pakistan 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st128Fakhar ZamanAbdullah Shafique
2nd32Babar AzamFakhar Zaman
3rd9Mohammad RizwanFakhar Zaman
4th36Mohammad RizwanIftikhar Ahmed