4 July 2008

Pakistan closed their Asia Cup campaign with a crushing ten-wicket win over Bangladesh in a Super Four dead rubber in Karachi.

Pakistan bowler Abdur Rauf took three wickets and opening batsmen Salman Butt and Nasir Jamshed scored half-centuries in a match the home side dominated from start to finish, bowling Bangladesh out for 115 and closing on 116 without loss in the 20th over.

Butt cracked ten fours in his unbeaten 56 while Jamshed lifted Shahadat Hossain and Mahmudullah for sixes as well as hitting four fours as Bangladesh's bowlers turned in a display that was as poor as their batsmen had been earlier in the day.

Right-armer Rauf finished with three for 26 with Rao Iftikhar returning figures of two for 20 and Saeed Ajmal two for 19 as Bangladesh were bowled out in the 39th over of the game.

Nazimuddin (three) perished to an unnecessary slog which was pouched by Shoaib Malik off of Rauf before Mohammad Ashraful was beaten by some bounce and was caught by Misbah-ul-Haq for 14.

Raqibul Hasan departed for a golden duck when he pulled Sohail Tanvir into the hands of Rao in the deep and he was followed back to the pavilion by Tamim Iqbal five balls later when he was caught by Younus Khan off of Rauf.

Iqbal had at least made a start, hitting three fours in his innings of 26. Also making a start was centurion against India Alok Kapali. He took four fours before offering Younus Khan another catch off the bowling of Iftikhar for 17.

Mushfiqur Rahim (15) and Mahmudullah (11) were the only other players to make double figures scores as the lower order offered scant resistance which saw off-spinner Ajmal pick bowl Abdur Razzak (nine) and have Farhad Reza stumped for three to end the innings.

Both sides are out of the tournament as Pakistan’s fate was sealed after India’s six wicket win over Sri Lanka yesterday to tie up the second final place.

Graham Wilson
© Cricket World

Asia Cup 2007/8