In a display of sheer dominance, PAK vs BAN Dominant Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets solidifying their position in the final of the Asia Cup 2023. This match showcased Pakistan’s exceptional all-round performance, leaving no doubt about their supremacy.
The Super 4s stage of the Asia Cup 2023 is a crucial battleground where each match plays a pivotal role in securing a coveted spot in the final. In this inaugural match of the stage, Bangladesh found themselves struggling in all facets of the game, while Pakistan maintained an iron grip on the proceedings right from the second over.
Winning the toss, Bangladesh opted to bat first—a decision they would soon come to regret. The opening pair of Naseem Shah and the ever-formidable Shaheen Shah, often referred to as ‘the EAGLE,’ swiftly justified Pakistan’s prowess with the ball. Shaheen Shah’s remarkable affinity for the new ball once again shone as he exploited the pitch conditions to devastating effect.
The usually dependable Mahidy Hasan Miraz, who had been Bangladesh’s standout batsman, was dismissed on the very first ball of the match. Litton Das tried to mount a counterattack but fell prey to the lethal Shaheen in the 5th over. Haris Rauf joined the onslaught and claimed two quick wickets, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 47 for 4.
A valiant effort by the skipper, Shakib, and Mushfiqur in the form of a 100-run partnership provided some respite for Bangladesh. However, their hopes were dashed when Faheem Ashraf dismissed the resilient Shakib after he had notched up a well-deserved half-century. Mushfiqur continued to hold fort until Haris Rauf delivered a remarkable delivery in the 38th over to send him packing at 190. The remaining three Bangladeshi players could only muster three additional runs, and Bangladesh set a target of 194 runs for Pakistan.
With just 194 runs to defend, Bangladesh found themselves struggling to maintain control of the match. Their bowlers persisted with tight lines and displayed resilience, but the pitch offered them little assistance. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman continued his lean patch, and Babar Azam received a delivery that stayed low.
Imam-ul-Haq, however, continued his affinity with Lahore’s ground, adding to his impressive record with yet another notable performance. Despite some close LBW appeals against him, Imam had already amassed two centuries and a couple of fifties at this venue. With over 10 overs remaining, Pakistan secured a straightforward victory, with a significant contribution from Mohammad Rizwan, who remained unbeaten with 63 runs. This victory served as a testament to Pakistan’s dominance in the match, putting them on the path to the Asia Cup 2023 final.
Check: ICC ODI Player Rankings 2023
Down Below is the PAK vs. BAN Scorecard:
PAK vs BAN Scorecard
Bangladesh- 193/10 (38.4)
| BATTING | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Naim | c & b Haris Rauf | 20 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz | c Fakhar Zaman b Naseem Shah | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Litton Das | c Mohammad Rizwan b Shaheen Shah Afridi | 16 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 123.07 |
| Shakib Al Hasan (c) | c Fakhar Zaman b Faheem Ashraf | 53 | 57 | 7 | 0 | 92.98 |
| Towhid Hridoy | b Haris Rauf | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 22.22 |
| Mushfiqur Rahim | c †Mohammad Rizwan b Haris Rauf | 64 | 87 | 5 | 0 | 73.56 |
| Shamim Hossain | c Imam-ul-Haq b Iftikhar Ahmed | 16 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 69.56 |
| Afif Hossain | c Faheem Ashraf b Naseem Shah | 12 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 109.09 |
| Taskin Ahmed | c †Mohammad Rizwan b Haris Rauf | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Shoriful Islam | b Naseem Shah | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Hasan Mahmud | not out | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| BOWLING | O | R | W | ECO | 4s | 6s | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 7 | 42 | 1 | 6.00 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Naseem Shah | 5.4 | 34 | 3 | 6.00 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Haris Rauf | 6 | 19 | 4 | 3.16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Faheem Ashraf | 7 | 27 | 1 | 3.85 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Shadab Khan | 7 | 35 | 0 | 5.00 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Agha Salman | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11.00 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Iftikhar Ahmed | 5 | 20 | 1 | 4.00 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Pakistan- 194/3 (39.3)
| BATTING | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fakhar Zaman | lbw b Shoriful Islam | 20 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 64.51 |
| Imam-ul-Haq | b Mehidy Hasan Miraz | 78 | 84 | 5 | 4 | 92.85 |
| Babar Azam (c) | b Taskin Ahmed | 17 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 77.27 |
| Mohammad Rizwan | not out | 63 | 79 | 7 | 1 | 79.74 |
| Agha Salman | not out | 12 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 57.14 |
| BOWLING | O | R | W | ECON | 4s | 6s | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taskin Ahmed | 8 | 32 | 1 | 4.00 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shoriful Islam | 8 | 24 | 1 | 3.00 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Hasan Mahmud | 7 | 46 | 0 | 6.57 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz | 10 | 51 | 1 | 5.10 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | 5.3 | 31 | 0 | 5.63 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Shamim Hossain | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8.00 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Also See: ICC World Cup 2023 Men’s ODI Batting Player Rankings