Pakistan beat Bangladesh in high scoring thriller

DHAKA: Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by three wickets in the eigth match of the Asia Cup 2014 here at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday.

Chasing a big target of 327, Pakistan completed the exciting victory when Umar Akmal hit the winning stroke, a cover drive for four, off the penultimate ball of the match.

Pakistan set a new record of achieving their highest chase – 329-7 in 49.5 overs – eclipsing the previous record of 322-6 made against India at Mohali on November 8, 2007.

Opener Ahmed Shahzad made a brilliant century (103 off 123 balls) with twelve fours and two sixes while Fawad Alam hit 74 off 70 balls with four boundaries and two sixes and Mohammad Hafeez scored 52 off 55 balls with eight fours.

However, it was Boom Boom Shahid Afridi who again showed a hurricane innings after a winning blitz against India on Sunday. He blasted a 25-ball 59 with seven towering sixes.

It was for the third time that Afridi reached fifty in 17 balls, the second fastest fifty in one-day international cricket.

Earlier, Bangladesh piled up a huge total of 326 runs for three wickets, which is their
highest-ever total in an ODI innings. The previous highest was 320-8, made against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2009.

Opener Anamul Haque made 100 off 132 balls with six boundaries and four sixes. This was his second century in One-day International cricket. This was also the second individual hundred by a Bangladeshi batsman in this tournament.

Among other batsmen, Imrul Kayes scored 59 from 75 balls with five fours and two sixes, Mominul Haque hit 51 off 47 balls with six fours, Mushfiqur Rahim smashed 51 off 33 balls with eight fours while Shakib Al Hasan playing for the first time in the tournament blasted an unbeaten 44 from just 16 balls with six fours and two sixes.

Shakib staged a comeback after he was suspended for three matches over indiscipline.