Pakistan held nerves to clinch a five-wicket win over Bangladesh in their final Super 12, Group 2 clash of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup at Adelaide, thus marching into the semifinal from their group.
Chasing 128, Pakistan had a solid start. Knowing that the target was less than moderate, openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan did not take many risks, instead allowing themselves to get settled on the crease. They did not go for many boundaries.
At the end of powerplay in six overs, Pakistan was at 35/0, with Azam (9) and Rizwan (26) unbeaten at the crease.
At the end of 10 overs, Pakistan was at 56/0, with Azam (25) and Rizwan (31) at the crease. The duo had reached 50-run stand in 58 balls.
Spinner Nasum Ahmed gave Bangladesh a key breakthrough, sending back Azam for 25 off 33 balls after he was caught by Mustafizur at backward point while he was trying to unleash a slog sweep. Pakistan was 57/1 at that moment.
Medium-pacer Ebadot Hossain intervened to remove Rizwan for 32 off 32 balls, reducing Pakistan to 61/2 in 11.2 overs.
It was in hands of Mohammad Nawaz and Mohammad Haris to safeguard their wicket and also go big whenever needed for their team’s cause. Haris started playing some aggressive shots and revived Pakistan’s chase. The 31-run stand between the duo was broken by a brilliant run-out by Litton Das which sent back Nawaz for four off 11 balls. Pakistan was 92/3 in 14.4 overs.
At the end of 15 overs, Pakistan was at 94/3, with Shan Masood (1) and Haris (22) at the crease. In the next over, they crossed the 100-run mark.
The 16th over gave away 16 runs, including a six from Haris. In the final four overs, Pakistan needed 18 runs.
Skipper Shakib al Hasan got his first wicket of the match, dismissing Haris for a well-made 31 off 18 balls after being caught by Nasum Ahmed. Pakistan needed seven in 19 balls.
Iftikhar Ahmed came to the crease, but was dismissed by Mustafizur Rahman for just one run, who got his first wicket of the match. Half of Pakistan’s batting was inside the pavilion for 126 runs in 18 overs.
Pakistan won the match by five wickets and marched into the semifinal along with rivals Team India from Group 2. They finished their innings at 128/5 in 18.1 overs, with Masood (24) and Shadab Khan (0) at the crease.
Nasum, Shakib, Mustafizur, Ebadot got a wicket each.