ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022, Super 12, Group 2, Pakistan vs Bangladesh: Shaheen Shah Afridi's 4-22, Mohammad Haris' 31 and Najmul Shanto's 54 are top performances as Pakistan beat Bangladesh. Pakistan qualify for the world cup semi-finals.
Brief Scores: Pakistan 128/5 (Rizwan 32, Haris 31, Nasum 1/14) beat Bangladesh 127/8 (Shanto 54, Afif 24*, Afridi 4/22) by 5 wickets
Player of the Match: Shaheen Shah Afridi (4/22)
Following a morale-boosting news of Netherland’s stunning victory over powerful South Africa to knock them out of the World Cup, Pakistan who after their successive losses came out with all guns blazing in the last two games, locked horns with Bangladesh who were heartbroken after their close defeat against India. The 14th Group 2 game from the Super 12 stage was played at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide.
These two sides have faced each other 7 times since 2019, with Pakistan winning every single game. But the winner of this eighth game between them would make it to the semis of this T20 World Cup.
Bangladesh batters fail as Pakistan bowlers came up high in a do-or-die game
In a do-or-die game against Pakistan, the Bangladesh batters didn’t apply themselves at all. They made a decent start in the powerplay, before losing track in the middle overs. Few wayward shots without any sort of certain planning was the reason for their failure.
On the flipside of the coin, Pakistan were excellent with the ball as they bowled in the right length and channel from the start to the end. The fielding was electrifying from Pakistan who saved a few runs in the outfield too.
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Spirited Pakistan earn a vital victory to qualify for the semis
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan on winning the toss opted to bat first on a used track that was expected to help the spinners later on. While Pakistan went with an unchanged eleven, Bangladesh included Soumya Sarkar, Ebadot Hossain and Nasum Ahmed, replacing Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam and Yasir Ali.
Deciding to bat first, Bangladesh openers put up a decent total of 40/1 in the powerplay, before recovering to 70/1 at the halfway mark. Pakistan made a significant comeback in the next phase of the game as they reduced Bangladesh to 99/4 in 15 overs. As wickets continued to fall, Pakistan kept Bangladesh to a low score of 127/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
Chasing a low score of 128, Pakistan began cautiously to reach 35/0 in the powerplay, before making their way to 56/0 at the halfway mark. The pressure was mounting as both the openers were dismissed quickly to keep them to 94/3 after 15 overs. But Mohammad Haris (31) and Shan Masood (24*) carried them over the line to the semis by a margin of five wickets.
Let’s scan the top three performances from the game between Pakistan and Bangladesh in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.
Shaheen Shah Afridi makes great comeback puncturing Bangladesh with 4/22
Since making a return to cricket from injury, Pakistan’s pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi hasn’t been in great form with just four wickets in four games, but in a vital game to keep Bangladesh to a low total, Pakistan needed him to step up with a high octane performance.
On the fifth ball of his second over, Afridi sent in-form Litton Das on 10, who slashed the ball straight to the man stationed at the gully position. Afridi finished with 1/14 in his two overs in the powerplay.
When he was called back for his third over during the 17th over of the game, Afridi collected the wicket of Mosaddek Hossain who saw the stumps flying as the ball deviated a little to kick the base of the stumps. On the fifth ball of the same over, Afridi caged Nurul Hasan on a three-ball duck who sliced the ball as the man running in from sweeper cover grabbed an easy catch.
On the first ball of his last over, Afridi sent back Taskin Ahmed (1) who tried to clear the infield but ended up being caught by the mid-off fielder. With 4/22 in his four overs, Shaheen Shah Afridi registered his best bowling figures in T20I cricket, in which format, he now has 55 T20I wickets in 45 games. He got full support from Shadab who finished with 2/30 in his four overs.
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Mohammad Haris fired up the chase with a quickfire 31
In his first game in the T20 World Cup 2022, Mohammad Haris lit up the stage with a fiery 11-ball 28 against South Africa to put immense pressure on the opponents. Chasing an average 128 against Bangladesh, Pakistan were under pressure as they had 61/2 in 11.2 overs, when Haris walked into the middle.
Haris began with a boundary thumped over covers, before stepping out to send Ebadot Hossain over the deep mid-wicket region for a huge six. After one calm over, Haris smoked Taskin Ahmed over deep mid-wicket for a huge maximum.
He got full support from Shan Masood who too looked in full flow as they shared a vital 29-run stand in just 13 balls. Haris who made 31 runs in just 18 balls with the help of one boundary and two sixes at a strike rate of 172.22, now has 66 T20I runs in three games.
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Najmul Hossain Shanto made valuable contribution with half-century
Najmul Hossain Shanto was in decent form for Bangladesh in this T20 World Cup at the top and he needed to cement one end to help others go for big shots from the other end.
Shanto cracked his first boundary against Shaheen Shah Afridi over point, thanks to a leading edge before finding the gap between point and cover point to collect another boundary. When Mohammad Wasim was introduced in the attack, Shanto slashed away between point and cover point for another boundary before pulling Wasim over deep square for a huge six.
When Iftikhar Ahmed was introduced in the attack, Shanto generated power to cut him past the point fielder before sweeping Shadab for another boundary. Shanto reached his second T20I fifty of the tournament in just 46 balls.
Shanto who was dismissed on a personal score of 54 in 48 balls thanks to his seven boundaries, now has 384 T20I runs in just 17 games.
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ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022, Group 2 Points Table
Point Table Scenario & What’s Next
With this victory, Pakistan reached the top position in Group 2, with 6 points in 5 games at a net run rate (NRR) of 1.028. They have also cemented a spot in the semi-final for themselves. Bangladesh fell down to number 5 in Group 2 with 4 points.
If the last game between India and Zimbabwe gets washed out or if India win, then Pakistan will face New Zealand in the first semi-final on November 9 in Sydney, else Pakistan will face England in the second semi-final on November 10 in Adelaide.
With Pakistan beating Bangladesh, the Netherlands have a great chance to directly qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
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