A record haul for teenage pacer Shaheen Afridi and an even century from Imam-ul-Haq steered Pakistan to a 94-run win over Bangladesh in both teams’ final ICC World Cup match at Lord’s, England, Friday.
Imam scored exactly 100 to guide Pakistan to 315 for nine before 19-year-old left-armer Afridi rooted out six wickets for 35 runs as Bangladesh were skittled for 221 all out. In the process, Afridi became the first ever teenager and youngest player to take a six-wicket haul in the World Cup.
Afridi removed Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal (8) to set back the Bangladeshis early at two wickets for 48 runs, but it was in his second spell that he did the most damage. He removed Bangladesh talisman Shakib Al Hasan for a top score of 64, as well as Liton Das (32) and Mahmudullah (29) during a spell of controlled bowling in the middle overs that the opposing batsmen had no answer for. He then scattered the stumps of Mohammad Saifuddin (0) and tailender Mustafizur Rahman (1) with brilliant yorkers at the end to wrap up the match
Both teams were already out of the semi-finals but the result helped Pakistan to 11 points and joint fourth place on the 10-team table alongside New Zealand. However, the Kiwis advanced on better run rate and alongside leaders Australia (14 pts), India (13) and England (12), who will now battle on for the prestigious World Cup title. Bangladesh finished seventh on the table on seven points, two better than South Africa and the West Indies.
Earlier, a 157-run second wicket partnership between Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam helped drive Pakistan’s 300-plus total.
Azam hit 96 in 98 deliveries, including 11 boundaries, before he was trapped lbw by a good yorker from Mohammad Saifuddin.
Imam-ul-Haq hit a run-a-ball 100, including seven fours, before he suffered the unfortunate fate of hitting his own stumps off the bowling of Rahman soon after reaching triple figures.
Mustafizur finished with 5-75 off 10 overs.
SUMMARISED SCORES
PAKISTAN 315-9 (50) (Imam-ul-Haq 100, Babar Azam 96, Mustafizur Rahman 5/75, Mohammad Saifuddin 3/77) v BANGLADESH 221 all out (44.1) (Shakib Al-Hasan 64, Shaheen Afridi 635, Shadab Khan 2/58)
Result: Pakistan won by 94 runs