Win over Bangaldesh launches Pakistan’s WC mission in style

DHAKA: Pakistan completed a well-rounded win over Bangladesh in their first warm-up match of the World Cup when they beat the hosts by 88 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.

Centuries from opener Ahmed Shehzad and vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq ensured a formidable total for Pakistan, who ended their innings at 286-9. The bowlers, led by all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, then completed the job for the visitors by bowling Bangladesh out for 196 inside 42 overs.
Shehzad and Misbah began Pakistan’s recovery in the 15th over, after the Bangladesh bowlers reduced the visitors to 58-3. Abdur Razzak and Shakib Al Hasan were the main tormentors as the spinners removed Kamran Akmal(1) and Younis Khan (5) cheaply.
Despite building their innings at a slow pace initially, Shehzad and Misbah later took the attack to the Bangladesh bowlers. The teenage opener hit nine fours and a six in his 103-run innings, while Misbah hit eight fours and four sixes – two of which took him to his century.
Umar Akmal (19) and Shahid Afridi (14) also tried to propel the total towards the 300-run mark towards the end but Pakistan kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Bangladesh used nine bowlers with skipper and slow left-armer Shakib Al Hasan taking 3-49 off his 10 overs.
Seamer Rubel Hossain also claimed three wickets, but his 10 overs cost 73 runs.
Bangladesh were put on the back foot from the start as they lost opener Tamim Iqbal when Abdul Razzaq knocked over his bails with the very first delivery.
While Imrul Kayes and Junaid Siddique resurrected the Bangladeshi innings to some extent, with their departure diminished any hopes of a fight-back from the Tigers.
Pakistan played their first warm-up match, while their second is scheduled against England on Friday. The 1992 champions open their campaign against Kenya in Sri Lanka on February 23.
The game is co-hosts Bangladesh’s final practice before their World Cup opener on February 19 in Dhaka against hot favourites India.
Each team named 15 players, but with only 11 entitled to bat or field, enabling them to maximize practice opportunities.
Bangladesh’s batting line-up was unchanged from the XI that trounced Canada last week.
Pakistan: (from) Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Umar Akmal, Shahid Afridi (captain), Abdul Razzaq, Abdur Rehman, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Shoaib Akhtar, Saeed Ajmal, Muhammad Junaid Khan, Asad Shafiq.
Bangladesh: (from) Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hassan (captain), Mohammad Ashraful, Mahmudullah, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Nazmul Hossain, Roqibul Hassan, Shahriar Nafees, Md Sohrawardi
Umpires: Steve Davis, Australia, and Billy Doctrove, West Indies.
Third Umpire: Bruce Oxenford, Australia.
Match Referee: Jeff Crowe, New Zealand