In a thrilling match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata during the ongoing ICC Men's World Cup 2023, Pakistan emerged victorious by defeating Bangladesh by 7 wickets while chasing a target of 205 runs.

Pakistan's openers provided a strong start, but they faced some hiccups, losing Abdullah Shafique for 68, Babar Azam for 9, and Fakhar Zaman for 81. All of these wickets were claimed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who also achieved a significant milestone by joining the 100-wickets club, the same feat as Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi.

With this win, Pakistan secured their third victory in the tournament, placing them in the 5th position with 6 points and a net run rate of -0.024. In contrast, Bangladesh slipped to the 9th position, accumulating 2 points with a negative net run rate of -1.446.

In the initial innings, Pakistan's express pace bowlers, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, played a crucial role in restricting Bangladesh to a below-par total of 204 runs. Mahmudullah was the highest scorer for Bangladesh, making a 70-ball 56, but the team struggled to build momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals. Litton Das (45), Shakib Al Hasan (43), and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (25) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.

Pakistan's bowlers delivered a commendable performance, with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Jr both securing three-wicket hauls. Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Usama Mir also contributed by taking wickets.

Shaheen Shah Afridi achieved a personal milestone during the match by taking his 100th wicket in one-day internationals.

Both teams made some strategic changes for the match, with Pakistan bringing in Fakhar Zaman, Agha Salman, and Usama Mir, while Shadab Khan, Imam-ul-Haq, and Mohammad Nawaz were omitted. Bangladesh, on the other hand, brought in Towhid Hridoy.

This win was a significant boost for Pakistan as they fought to keep their slim hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive in the tournament. With four victories from six matches, they are committed to earning a special place in the later stages of the tournament.

Picture Courtesy: India Today