Shaheen Afridi (3/23), Mohammad Wasim Jr (3/31), and Haris Rauf (2/36)
Cricbuzzteam, PAk vs BAN, In a thrilling encounter at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on October 31, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr, and Haris Rauf combined to put on a spectacular bowling performance that saw Bangladesh being bowled out for a mere 204. This gripping match showcased Pakistan’s remarkable skills in extracting reverse swing and handling the slow pitch conditions, ultimately leading to their victory.
PAK vs BAN: Match 1st Inning
Opting to bat, Bangladesh faced a daunting challenge as they struggled to find their footing against the formidable Pakistani pace attack. Only four of their batsmen managed to reach double digits, but none of them could convert their starts into significant scores. Wickets fell at regular intervals, with the exception of one partnership that briefly gave them hope.
Pakistan’s pacers, led by Shaheen Afridi, took advantage of the conditions at Eden Gardens. Afridi struck early in the innings, getting one to swing back and dismissing Tanzim Hasan LBW. He then sent Najmul Hossain Shanto back to the pavilion, chipping a simple catch to short mid-wicket. With these crucial breakthroughs, Afridi crossed the 100 ODI wickets milestone.
Haris Rauf delivered a significant blow, removing the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim, who had just hit a glorious boundary before nicking one behind. At 23/3, Bangladesh was in deep trouble.
In an unexpected yet strategic move, Mahmudullah was promoted to number five. He partnered with Litton Das, and together they weathered the initial storm, forming a resilient 79-run partnership. Despite the slow nature of the pitch, both batsmen managed to accumulate runs and provide some momentum to the Bangladesh innings.
Unfortunately, their partnership was short-lived, as part-time spinner Iftikhar Ahmed dismissed Litton Das with a soft dismissal. This wicket slowed down the run rate significantly.
Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh skipper, had a scratchy innings. He took a considerable amount of time to settle in and couldn’t force the issue, except for a single over against Iftikhar. Pakistan’s bowlers exploited the pitch’s characteristics, consistently hitting the good length spot and making the most of the variable bounce.
Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Jr continued to exploit the reverse swing available, further crippling Bangladesh’s chances. Their disciplined bowling display kept the pressure on the opposition, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s late efforts only managed to push Bangladesh’s total past the 200-run mark.
Bangladesh’s lack of clarity in pacing their innings and the tricky pitch conditions were the major factors contributing to their underwhelming performance. Pakistan’s bowlers were relentless, showcasing a complete bowling performance that ultimately sealed the match in their favor.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh 204 in 45.1 overs (Mahmudullah 56, Litton Das 45; Shaheen Afridi 3-23, Mohammad Wasim Jr 3-31) vs Pakistan