Shakib Al Hasan plays a cut shot
Shakib Al Hasan slammed blistering 84 off 44 balls to help Bangladesh manage a gigantic total of 175-6 against Pakistan in the crucial match of ICC World Twenty20 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Shakib Al Hasan, slamming 11 boundaries and two sixes on his way, shared a 68-run third-wicket stand with skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (25 off 26).
Bangladesh, who lost their opening match to New Zealand by 59 runs, needed a victory of 36 runs over Pakistan to ensure a Super Eight berth. Bangladesh have not beaten Pakistan in 13 years. Their only victory against green shirts came in World Cup 1999 in England.
Pakistan’s standard of Pakistan’s fielding was below-par as they put down several catches, leaked runs through miss fielding, and squandered several run-out opportunities.
Electing to bat, Bangladesh lost Mohammad Ashraful (14) after a glowing 34-run stand before Tamim Iqbal (24 off 12) combined with Shakib Al Hasan to plunder 34 runs off just 20 balls.
Belting five boundaries in his blazing knock, Iqbal got run-out in the 6th over following a mix up with his partner.
Shakib Al Hasan brought up his fifty off 33 balls with the help of seven boundaries and two sixes.
Rahim and Mahmudullah departed in the quick-succession but dauntless Shakib Al Hasan continued to clobber runs with sparkling shots.
Shaikb Al Hasan’s remarkable innings came into an end in the final delivery when he skied a catch to Umar Akmal off Yasir Arafat.
