Ajmal on vacation from Hogwarts

Must-win game for Bangladesh. Their fans brought energy and colour to Mirpur. So did their players.

CLOSE ENOUGH. #WT20 pic.twitter.com/U7HZbEtwyy

— Wallflower. (@FareeAwan) March 16, 2014

Going by the law of averages, today was going to be Bangladesh's day?

Today is without any doubt, positively, definitely, 100%, the day Bangladesh finally come good. Maybe. #wt20

— 51allout (@51allout) March 30, 2014

It began to go belly up for the hosts quite early.

Mortaza bowls a 72mph half volley on leg stump and looks confused about it going for four

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) March 30, 2014

Ahmed Shehzad was in prime touch, but his opening partner took a while to get going.

Just added that shot from Shehzad in my coffee in lieu of cream.

— karachikhatmal (@karachikhatmal) March 30, 2014

Kamran Akmal hoards dots balls like a sugar mill owner hoards sugar in Ramzan. Massive stocks he keeps adding to.

— karachikhatmal (@karachikhatmal) March 30, 2014

Kamran Akmal's strong zone is consistently inducing forgiveness and amnesia in Pakistan's selectors. #wt20

— Pavilion Opinions (@pavilionopinion) March 30, 2014

Pakistan were completely out of danger once Shehzad reached 40, courtesy the broadcaster's continued problems with understanding causality.

Shehzad has over 40. Wasim told me that means Pakistan can't lose. Should just walk off now

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) March 30, 2014

While the conventional strokes were serving him sell, Shehzad also tried to play some cheeky shots, without much success.

Shehzad trying to emulate AB De Villiers from last night, best leave the learning to the nets! #PakvBan #T20WC

— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) March 30, 2014

Pakistan lost three quick wickets, but Shoaib Malik settled in to support Shehzad.

"How bad is this guy; how can anyone still get hit by Shoaib Malik?" Pakistani uncle not impressed by mahmudullah

— Hassan Cheema (@mediagag) March 30, 2014

It's almost as if Bangladesh don't want to be a tiny piece of an unlikely jigsaw of results necessary to get Australia into the #WT20 finals

— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) March 30, 2014

Bangladeshi spectator drill: raise hands in anticipation, place hands on head #wtf20 #BANvsPAK

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) March 30, 2014

Batting was a breeze for Shehzad on the day, and his 100 came up with time to spare.

Ahmed Shehzad finding it so easy out there he has started umpiring as well

— Russell Degnan (@idlesummers) March 30, 2014

Shahzad just started off for a run before he had hit the ball!

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) March 30, 2014

Another chance to play my favourite game: Ahmed Shehzad or Virat Kohli? pic.twitter.com/ME0n8xzyr6

— Alternative Cricket (@AltCricket) March 30, 2014

Shehzad celebrated quite emotionally too, a bit like Kohli.

LIVE: The moment Shehzad almost took out Ian Gould https://t.co/4VFcdv8Bfb pic.twitter.com/p155ykPAeo

— Dawn Media Group (@dawn_com) March 30, 2014

Bangladesh wilted at the death, when Shahid Afridi came out to join the run-fest.

Umpire: "It's a free hit, Shahid." Afridi: "What's the difference?"

— Alternative Cricket (@AltCricket) March 30, 2014

Anyone who bats after Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik is bound to be this angry. #Afridi

— Sidvee (@sidvee) March 30, 2014

Bangladesh's chase got off to an average start, with most of the runs coming off Pakistan's wrong-footed seamer.

Not sure even Donatello could ever hope to create a chin as chiseled as Tanvir's #wt20

— 51allout (@51allout) March 30, 2014

What's worse on ground today? 1. Sohail Tanveer 2. Bangladesh Kit #WT20 #BanvPak

— Aik-ib (@AenakWalaTweep) March 30, 2014

How does Tamim Iqbal have the nerve to play such an outlandish shot and then act all surprised that he's bowled?

— Sidvee (@sidvee) March 30, 2014

Anamul Haque showed some promise, and even sent Saeed Ajmal's first ball to the boundary. However, he couldn't survive the over.

Do not, I repeat do NOT, hit Ajmal for a boundary ....

— Hasnain (@Hassynain) March 30, 2014

This is how you set up a batsman for wicket. Learn from Ajmal. He is on vacations from Hogwarts. #WT20

— KApt Slim (@kAptslim) March 30, 2014

Bangladesh's task assumed daunting proportions against Pakistan's army of slower men.

4 Pak Spinners today: Hafeez, Ajmal, Babar and Afridi. Old, Older, Oldest and Forever Young.

— Subash Jayaraman (@thecricketcouch) March 30, 2014

Mohammad Hafeez, Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar and Shahid Afridi - Pakistan have more spinners than the ECB PR department! #BanvPak #WT20

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) March 30, 2014

Zulfiqar Babar looks like he's 50 years old, making him Shahid Afridi's senior by a mere 31 years #wt20

— Cricket Gandu (@CricketGandu) March 30, 2014

Zulfiqar babar with his younger son pic.twitter.com/2tSmKRieCF

— Amir (@ammirrr) March 30, 2014

As expected, Bangladesh subsided without a whimper.

Dunno whats going out fast! My Smartphone battery or Bangladesh's Batsmen #PAKvBAN

— Gautam. (@TheLazyLad) March 30, 2014

Nobody likes a boring T20 game, right?

Thanks to Pakistani Team for having mercy on my nails by having a convincing victory #PakvBan #icct20wc

— Umer (@umersriaz) March 30, 2014

Wrong.

Congratulations to Bangladesh for knocking themselves and Australia out of the #WT20.

— Alternative Cricket (@AltCricket) March 30, 2014

Bangladesh last 40 matches v Pakistan (most recent first): L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) March 30, 2014

Ouch.