Kolkata (West Bengal): Pakistan shrugged off their four losses in a row in the game against Bangladesh and beat the opposition by seven wickets. Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and elected to bat in their league stage game against Pakistan at the famed Eden Gardens here. However, the decision backfired for the side as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals except for Mahmudullah's valiant 56 and were bundled out for 204. Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Jr were impressive with their spells picking three wickets each.
Chasing an easy target, Pakistan openers were off to a flier as both Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman notched up fifties. Shafique was dismissed later but Fakhar played a stellar knock of 81 runs to help the team chase down the target in 32.3 overs.
- 8.33 pm
Rizwan pushes one to the covers and runs for the winning single. - 8.22 pm
Iftikhar Ahmed thumped a four against a slower delivery from Mustafuzur. - 8.12 pm
Fakhar Zaman's another attempt to clear the deep midwicket boundary has failed this time and the batter walks back to the pavilion on a low score. - 8.02 pm
Babar Azam's struggle with the bat continues as the Pakistan skipper dances down the track but is caught at long-on by Mahmudullah - 7.52 pm
Fakhar Zaman looks like the man on a mission and whacks it big over deep midwicket against Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a maximum. - 7.41 pm
As soon as the Bangladesh skipper had brought back Mehidy Hasan Miraz into the attack, he dismissed Abdullah Shafique and the batter is hit on his pads in front of the stumps. It's plumb. - 7.34 pm
Taskin Ahmed bowls a short delivery but Abdullah Shafique has responded to it in a befitting manner smoking a six-over deep mid-wicket with a pull. The victorious moment is now only a few steps away for the Pakistani national side. - 7.24 pm
A hundred-run partnership and both the openers are now taking Pakistan to an easy win. - 7.14 pm
Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman both have now notched up their fifties and Pakistan are heading for an easy win over their opponents. - 7.04 pm
Fakhar Zaman is playing with an attacking approach and he comes down the track on a flighted delivery and clears the ropes with ease. - 6.54 pm
Abdullah Shafique smashed three back-to-back boundaries against Mustafizur Rehman and the Pakistan openers are cruising to a huge opening wicket stand. - 6.15 pm
Abdullah Shafique flicks one through the midwicket to a full delivery from Shoriful Islam and it looks like a positive start for the batter. - 6.05 pm
The Pakistan opening pair has a steady start to the innings. - 5.32 pm
Mohammad Wasim Jr ends the Bangladesh innings with a full-length delivery and the batter has played onto his pads and the deflection lands on the stumps. - 5.24 pm
Another wicket for Wasim as he bowls out Taskin Ahmed and the stumps are shattered yet again. - 5.21 pm
Mohammad Wasim Jr wraps up Mehidy Hasan Miraz as the batter missed the line of the ball completely and his off-stump is shattered as a result. - 5.14 pm
Shaheen is now getting into the groove and is making the ball with his reverse swing and cutters. Bangladesh batters are clearly not looking comfortable to attack at the back end of the innings. - 5.04 PM
Haris Rauf bowls a fiery bouncer to Shakib Al Hasan and the batter top edges a pull and the ball sails in the hands of the midwicket. Bangladesh is in deep trouble now. - 4.44 pm
As the Bangladesh innings is entering the fag end, Shakib will have to switch gears as soon as possible. - 4.33 pm
Usama Mir takes his first wicket of the game as Towhid Hrody nicks a leg-break delivery from him to the wicketkeeper and walks back to the pavilion even before the umpire raises his finger. - 4.22 pm
A jaffa from Shaheen Afridi gets rid of Mahmudullah as the ball seamed away after pitching in line of leg-stump. - 4.19 pm
Shakib and Mahmudullah need to switch the gears with the game crossing the halfway stage. - 4.06 pm
Mahmudullah pushed a delivery from Haris Rauf towards the third man to take a single and complete his 28th ODI fifty. - 4.00 pm
Pakistan bowlers are bowling with discipline and so Bangladesh's scoring rate has dropped significantly. - 3.41 pm
A soft dismissal has broken a good-looking partnership. Iftikhar's delivery came slower than Litton expected and he played it straight in the hands of the fielder in the 30-yard circle. Utter disbelief was written all over the batter's face after dismissal. - 3.36 pm
Ever since Usama Mir started his spell he has never threatened either of the batters and both of them are steering the scoreboard with ease against the spinner. - 3.26 pm
The Bangladesh duo has notched up a fifty-run partnership now and they will be eyeing to bring back Bangladesh innings on track. - 3.16 pm
Mohammad Wasim Jr is bowling on the tight lines and is not allowing the Bangladesh batters to free their arms - 3.08 pm
Experienced Mahmudullah drove one through the covers against Usama Mir and Pakistan will be keen to dismiss him as soon as possible considering his recent form. - 3.00 pm
Mahmudullah and Litton Das are slowly but surely trying to build a partnership to get the Bangladesh innings on track. - 2.53 pm
Litton Das has somewhat held his nerves after seeing wickets falling in quick succession. The right handed batter has scored 18 runs so far which still looks decent considering the current situation of the team. - 2.45 pm
Haris Rauf joins the party as he sends back the experienced Bangladesh batter, Mushfiqur Rahim. Bangladesh are now in deep trouble as they have lost three wickets within first seven overs. - 2.30 pm
Shaheen Afridi has finally delivered what Pakistan was missing in the ongoing tournament, the wicket taking opening spell. Currently, Bangladesh are struggling to build a good start against the explendid Pak's pace bowling. - 2.22 pm
Pacer Shaheen Afridi got his second wicket in his second over. He removed Najmul Shanto (4 off 3 balls), who was caught by Usama Mir at short mid-wicket. It was Afridi's 101st ODI wicket. - 2.06 pm
Bangladesh lost opener Tanzid Hasan for a duck as he was trapped by pacer Shaheen Afridi in the first over. In walked Najmul Shanto, who joined Litton Das and the duo would now be looking to steady the ship. Shaheen Afridi took his 100th ODI wicket and became the third-fastest bowler to scalp 100 ODI wickets. He took his 100th ODI wicket in his 51st match. Nepal's Sandeep Lamichhane is the fastest bowler to reach 100 ODI wickets as he achieved it in 42 matches. - Fastest to 100 ODI wickets (by matches)
42 - Sandeep Lamichhane
44 - Rashid Khan
51 - Shaheen Afridi
52 - Mitchell Starc
53 - Saqlain Mushtaq - 1.55 pm
Both the National Anthems are played and the game will start within five minutes.
- 1.45 pm