Cricket World Cup 2023: Pakistan beat Bangladesh to put campaign back on track

Pakistan pulled their World Cup campaign back on track by defeating Bangladesh at the majestic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday.

Pakistan, who had suffered four consecutive losses to leave them in disarray, bounced back to winning ways with a 7-wicket win.

Faced with a target of 205, Pakistan put the skates on by racing to victory with 105 balls remaining, and keep their semifinal hopes alive.

Openers Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique set the foundation with a 128-run partnership. Zaman top scored with a sublime 81, while Shafique made 68.

Earlier, Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets to help limit Bangladesh to 204 all out.

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Shaheen finished with 3-23 and was ably supported by Mohammad Wasim's 3-31.

Haris Rauf took 2-36 as Bangladesh struggled on a dry and slow Eden Gardens pitch where they folded in 45.1 overs.

Bangladesh, who won the toss and batted, only passed 200-mark thanks to a solid 70-ball 56 from Mahmudullah, 45 by Liton Das and skipper Shakib Al Hasan's 64-ball 43.

Shaheen struck with the fifth ball of his first over, trapping opener Tanzid Hasan right in front of the wicket and then saw Usama Mir clutch on to a flick off Najmul Hossain Shanto (four) in his next.

The first dismissal gave Shaheen his 100th wicket in his 51st one-day international, making him the 21st Pakistani bowler with a century of wickets.

Pace partner Haris made it 23-3 with the wicket of veteran Mushfiqur Rahim caught behind for five in the sixth over.

It took a 79-run stand between Mahmudullah and Liton to carry Bangladesh to 102 when Iftikhar Ahmed broke the stand with a soft dismissal of Liton, caught off a loose shot.

Liton hit six boundaries in his 64-ball knock.

Shaheen came back for his second spell to finish Mahmudullah's knock, bowling him with a superb outswinger that hit the top of the off stump.

Mahmudullah's knock had a six and six boundaries.

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