|
Asia Cup - 2004
|
|
|
icricketer.com > Series >
Asia Cup - 2004
>
News
Yasir, Akhtar give Pakistan winning start
COLOMBO: Yasir Hameed and Shoaib Akhtar played the leading roles as
Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 76 runs at the Asia Cup in Sri
Lanka.
Hameed struck 102 off 123 balls as they totalled 257-6 in their 50
overs, sharing stands of 86 with Imran Farhat (28) and 109 with
Inzamam-ul-Haq (59).
Javed Omar gave Bangladesh hope as he followed his 68 in Friday's
win over Hong Kong with 62.
But Shoaib took three wickets in six overs as they subsided to 181
all out.
After an initial burst with the new ball which brought him no
reward, he returned for the 31st over with the Bangladesh lower
order exposed after Omar had been run out.
It proved an unequal contest as he removed Mushfiqur Rahman, Khaled
Mashud and Khaled Mahmud in quick succession to finish his 10 overs
with figures of 3-28.
But it was fitting that Hameed was involved in the final act as he
took the catch at deep mid-wicket to dismiss Mohammed Rafique (18)
off spinner Shoaib Malik.
His century earlier in the game was his third in a one-day
international for Pakistan, who were playing for the first time
under new coach Bob Woolmer.
They went into the match having won 15 of the 16 previous meetings
between the two sides, but Bangladesh were in hopeful mood after
Friday's 116-run win over Hong Kong.
Inzamam chose to bat after winning the toss and Hameed and Farhat
laid an excellent foundation for the innings as they progressed at
almost five an over.
Inzamam then took over, striking two sixes off Mohammed Rafique
during his 66-ball innings and seeing Hameed through to three
figures after the latter had been dropped by Mohammad Ashraful on
52.
Bangladesh struck back by dismissing both batsmen from successive
deliveries.
Inzamam was stumped off Razzaq (2-36) at the end of the 41st over
and Hameed, who struck 10 fours, followed at the start of the next
when he was caught by Mushfiqur Rahman at deep mid-wicket off Khaled
Mahmud.
Yousuf Youhana added a final flourish to the innings with an
unbeaten 29 off 27 balls and although Bangladesh made a sound start
in reply as Omar and Ashraful added 48 in 10 overs, they could not
sustain it.
Ashraful was caught behind for 12 off Mohammad Sami, who quickly
added the wicket of Habibul Bashar for two.
Alok Kapali made a useful 28 but the asking rate had mounted to
seven an over when Omar departed with the total on 114.
His exit effectively settled the outcome of the match but Shoaib
snuffed out any remaining hopes Bangladesh might have harboured to
put his team in good shape for tougher challenges ahead.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
