Shaheen Shah Afridi returned career-best figures of 4-22 to lead Pakistan into the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals with a five-wicket win over Bangladesh
Shaheen Afridi owned the spotlight with six lattices at the Lord’s the last time Pakistan squared off against Bangladesh in an ICC event( in 2019). Three and a half times latterly, the two brigades met at an ICC event again this time at the Adelaide Oval in the T20 World Cup on Sunday and Shaheen troubled Bangladesh again, returning his career-stylish numbers of four for 22 as Pakistan stormed into the semifinals with a five- gate palm.
Bangladesh’s decision to club first boomeranged as Shaheen dismissed Litton Das beforehand. Days after his 27- ball- 60 in a narrow defeat to India at the same venue, Das started hastily again, hitting a six off Shaheen in the alternate over. But a catch at gully by Shan Mashood saw him return to the unker just balls latterly. Bangladesh rebuilt with a 52- run stage between Najmul Hossain Shanto and Soumya Sarkar and managed to reach 127 for eight before Pakistan chased down the total with 11 balls to spare.
Capitalising on a reprieve — a dropped catch by Shadab Khan on 11 at short redundant — Shanto went on to top- score with 54( 48b, 7×4). But the situation changed dramatically for Bangladesh in the eleventh over when Shadab Khan struck doubly. Soumya tried a rear paddle- reach that bring him his gate. Shadab struck again on the coming delivery, albeit amid contestation.
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan was given out lbw. renewals showed that the ball had grazed the club before it hit the pad. Yet, the third arbiter Langton Rusere upheld the on- field call. Shakib, stunned, shook his head, gestured his hands, and did n’t want to leave the pitch.
Indeed as Shadab’s chapeau- trick was prevented by Afif Hossain, Bangladesh lost brume after Shakib’s redundancy.
It lost lattices at regular intervals and Shaheen struck doubly in one over to ultimately claim his first four- gate haul in T20Is.
Chasing a rather low aggregate, Pakistan survived a dread on the third ball of the innings as wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan dropped an easy catch off Mohammad Rizwan. As Taskin Ahmed looked fractured, Rizwan hit him for a six in the coming delivery.
And as Bangladesh bowlers plodded to find a advance, Rizwan and captain Babar Azam went about their business at ease. After a series of poor jaunts, Babar scored 25 off 34. Though he didn’t look set, the captain managed to spend some time at the crinkle before falling to Nasum Ahmed.
Shanto dismissed Rizwan( 32, 32b, 2 × 4, 1 × 6) in the alternate ball of the 12th over, but with Mohammad Haris scoring 31( 18b, 1×4, 2×6) and Shan Masood stepping up with an unbeaten 24, Pakistan assured it was home without farther trouble. Sloppy fielding and a couple of gratuitous defeats added to Bangladesh’s straits.
Pakistan had come from nowhere to make it to the semifinals after Netherlands stunned South Africa before in the day. It came the alternate platoon from Group 2, after India, to make it to the last four.
Bangladesh batter Najmul Hossain Shanto dead- batted Shakib Al Hasan’s controversial lbw decision by third arbiter Langton Rusere, claiming that the platoon didn’t lose attention after the captain’s redundancy.
Renewals showed that the ball had grazed the club before it hit the pad. Yet, the Zimbabwean third arbiter upheld the on- field call. Shakib, stunned, shook his head, gestured his hands, and didn’t want to leave the pitch.
Against Pakistan’s strong bowling line- up, Bangladesh easily lost brume after Shakib’s redundancy.
It lost lattices at regular intervals, but Shanto claimed else. “ There was a lot of confusion for everyone, but we weren’t fastening on that gate. The idea was to play some good justice latterly on, ” Shanto, who top- scored with 54, said.
“ We didn’t lose attention, but yes, we felt that it wasn’t out. The arbiter’s decision is final, and we ca n’t do anything about it. But I admit that we couldn’t play well after that in the middle- overs ”
After losing Litton Das beforehand, Bangladesh rebuilt with a 52- run stage between Shanto and Soumya Sarkar and managed to reach 127 for eight before Pakistan chased down the total with 11 balls to spare. “ This gate would offer 140 or 150 runs. I wanted to finish, but I couldn’t do that. So, I lament that a bit, but if our batters at the lower- order could have taken it forward a bit, we’d have been in a better position ” he said.
“As a platoon, we failed to perform. We won the games as a platoon, and it’s everyone’s responsibility to play well. As a platoon we failed moment. This was an occasion for us, and we couldn’t use it ”
Bangladesh won two of its league games against Zimbabwe and The Netherlands, but ended up losing to all the three strong brigades- India, Pakistan and South Africa. Read More News…
