Haris Rauf bowled a few hostile spells, whereas Imam-ul-Haq struck a silken 78 as Pakistan secured a snug seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in a Super Four conflict of the Asia Cup in Lahore on Wednesday. Rauf (6-0-19-4) proved to be too fast for the Bangladeshi batters, who had been additionally troubled relentlessly by Naseem Shah (5.4-0-34-3) after Shakib-Al-Hasan opted to bat. Bangladesh had been ultimately bundled out for a paltry 193 in simply 38.4 overs, regardless of a 100-run stand and twin half-centuries by Shakib (53 off 57 balls) and former captain Mushfiqur Rahim (64 off 87 balls).

The goal was by no means going to pose an issue for the hosts, who knocked it off in simply 39.3 overs.

Even although Fakhar Zaman’s lean patch continued and Babar Azam was performed on by a supply from Taskin Ahmed that saved low, southpaw Imam was grace personified en route his 84-ball knock.

In all, he hit 5 fours and 4 sixes whereas anchoring the innings in firm of Mohammad Rizwan (63 not out off 79 balls). The duo added 85 runs for the third wicket and ensured that there aren’t any hiccups within the chase.

Two of his sixes — a pull-shot over mid-wicket off Mehidy Hasan Miraj and an inside out loft over long-off in opposition to Shakib bore testimony to Imam’s expertise.

Pakistan will now head to Colombo as soon as once more to face arch-rivals India of their second Super Four recreation on Sunday.

Earlier, Bangladesh suffered two batting collapse — first the the top-order was blown away within the Power Play and the decrease middle-order fell like a pack of playing cards in the direction of the tip of the innings. They had been diminished to 47 for 4 through the first Powerplay and once more misplaced six wickets for 47 runs between overs 30 to 39.

Rauf terrorised the batters with sheer tempo whereas Naseem (3/34 in 5.4 overs) additionally added seam and swing with it.

The hassle began within the second over as final match’s centurion Mehidy Hasan Miraj (0) flicked the primary supply he confronted off Naseem into the fingers of mid-wicket.

Mohammed Naim (20) and Litton Das (16) hit a flurry boundaries between them, taking the rating to 31 earlier than Shaheen Shah Afridi (1/42 in 7 overs) received one to climb on the latter, who might solely fend it awkwardly permitting Mohammed Rizwan to finish the formalities.

After that Rauf, coming in at one change, began hitting the bat sooner than the opposition willow wielders might have envisaged.

Rauf, who hits the onerous lengths, had Naim cramped for room whereas attempting a pull-shot however all he might do was supply a easy return catch.

Towhid Hridoy (2) did not measure up as Rauf went barely wider off the crease and angled one it at 140 kmph plus pace. Hridoy could not get his bat down and was castled.

Shakib and Mushfiqur, the seasoned campaigners of many-a-battle for Bangladesh over final decade-and-half, then steadied the ship however the top-order failure left them with an excessive amount of to do.

With no Mohammed Nawaz within the line-up, Pakistan had 4 pacers working and the duo needed to perform the rescue act.

Once Shakib was holed out within the deep off Faheem Ashraf (1/27 in 7 overs), Bangladesh’s innings derailed.

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