What an exhilarating cricket match we witnessed today! Pakistan showcased a stellar performance to end their World Cup losing streak, defeating Bangladesh with seven wickets to spare. This victory keeps their hopes of making it to the semi-finals alive, and it was nothing short of a classic Pakistan performance.
The hero of the day was undoubtedly Shaheen Shah Afridi, who made history by becoming the fastest quick bowler to reach 100 ODI wickets. He was on fire and emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the entire World Cup. His spell played a crucial role in dismissing Bangladesh for a modest 204.
Fakhar Zaman, who had recently returned to the side, put up a show to remember. His spectacular 81 off 74 balls was a treat to watch and set Pakistan on the path to victory. This innings not only boosted Pakistan’s confidence but also significantly improved their net run-rate.
The match felt like a typical Pakistan performance from the very beginning. Afridi struck early, taking a wicket in the very first over and then adding another shortly after. Haris Rauf also chipped in, making it three wickets down for Bangladesh. However, a partnership between Litton Das and Mahmudullah offered some resistance and briefly revived the Bangladeshi innings.
But the turning point came when Litton got out to a seemingly easy delivery from Iftikhar Ahmed. His dismissal left Bangladesh deflated, and Shakib Al Hasan struggled to get going until Afridi delivered an unplayable reverse-swinging delivery to clean up Mahmudullah.
With the introduction of reverse swing in the later stages of the game, Pakistan’s bowlers further tightened the noose around Bangladesh. Eventually, Pakistan bowled out Bangladesh for 204.
Pakistan’s innings started slowly, but Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique soon started piling on the runs. Fakhar’s remarkable display of power hitting, including several sixes, made the chase look comfortable. His half-century was a treat to watch, and at one point, it seemed like Pakistan was racing toward a ten-wicket win.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz managed to break Pakistan’s flow by taking three wickets, but it was not enough to derail the chase. Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar played some aggressive shots, sealing Pakistan’s victory with more than 17 overs to spare. The win lifted the gloom that had settled over the Pakistan side in recent weeks.
As for Bangladesh, they are now officially out of the tournament, while Pakistan’s late charge may just be the spark they needed to keep their World Cup dreams alive. It was a thrilling contest that reminded us why we love the game of cricket.
