Bangladesh v Pakistan
Wisden's review of Bangladesh v Pakistan
Andrew Fidel Fernando
15-Apr-2017
At Kolkata, March 16, 2016. Pakistan won by 55 runs. Toss: Pakistan.
The stars aligned for Pakistan, whose batting came together seamlessly and emphatically. Ahmed Shehzad led the way, providing impetus with his customary boundaries through cover, midwicket and square leg, while Mohammad Hafeez - with whom he added 95 for the second wicket - ventured even bigger blows in a rapid 64. It was Shahid Afridi, though, who played the most devastating hand, pushing himself up to No. 4 and swinging from the start. Bangladesh eased him in with some hittable leg-side deliveries, but soon Afridi was clattering even the good ones over the ropes. In a 19-ball stay, he struck four fours and four sixes - the most memorable on bended knee over long-on, off Shakib Al Hasan. He was eventually out for 49 in the final over, having turned Pakistan's total from competitive to commanding: only once before, against the same opposition in Karachi in 2007-08, had they made more in a Twenty20 innings. Bangladesh's pursuit of 202 was limp. Soumya Sarkar was out in the first over, and charges from Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman were shut down by Afridi. Shakib hit an unbeaten 50 but, with team-mates faltering, he couldn't mount a meaningful challenge.
Man of the Match: Shahid Afridi.
The stars aligned for Pakistan, whose batting came together seamlessly and emphatically. Ahmed Shehzad led the way, providing impetus with his customary boundaries through cover, midwicket and square leg, while Mohammad Hafeez - with whom he added 95 for the second wicket - ventured even bigger blows in a rapid 64. It was Shahid Afridi, though, who played the most devastating hand, pushing himself up to No. 4 and swinging from the start. Bangladesh eased him in with some hittable leg-side deliveries, but soon Afridi was clattering even the good ones over the ropes. In a 19-ball stay, he struck four fours and four sixes - the most memorable on bended knee over long-on, off Shakib Al Hasan. He was eventually out for 49 in the final over, having turned Pakistan's total from competitive to commanding: only once before, against the same opposition in Karachi in 2007-08, had they made more in a Twenty20 innings. Bangladesh's pursuit of 202 was limp. Soumya Sarkar was out in the first over, and charges from Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman were shut down by Afridi. Shakib hit an unbeaten 50 but, with team-mates faltering, he couldn't mount a meaningful challenge.
Man of the Match: Shahid Afridi.