Sarfraz takes Pakistan to 236

March 22, 2012

50 overs Pakistan 236 for 9 (Sarfraz 46*, Hafeez 40, Razzak 2-26, Shakib 2-39) v Bangladesh

Bangladesh were favourites to crack on their biggest day as a cricketing nation. A fourth consistent performance on the trot was expected to be beyond them. But they gave an extremely creditable account of themselves with the ball and in the field, apart from a chaotic last over. Pakistan are masters of the big moment, though, and somehow find a player who performs. Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed, who had a highest ODI score of 24 and a strike-rate of 62.35 before this game, turned 199 for 8 into 236 for 9 with a 52-ball 46. Pakistan were still short on a pitch which has been favourable to the chasing side in this tournament.

The talk had been about whether Bangladesh would be able to handle the nerves of only their second ODI tournament final, but their bowling was tight and their fielding was energetic, as it had been throughout the tournament. Pakistan were not allowed to get away, except in the last over, and could be left to rue an innings of several wasted starts.

After having had a steady tournament, Bangladesh's highest ODI wicket-taker Abdur Razzak rose to the occasion, with figures of 10-3-26-2. Shakib Al Hasan weighed in with 2 for 39 but Shahadat Hossain proved expensive once again in a horror last over which contained two no-balls and went for 19.

More to follow ...

25 overs Pakistan 84 for 4 (U Akmal 9*, Azam 7*) v Bangladesh

	Misbah-ul-Haq was short of his ground, thanks to some sharp fielding © AFP Enlarge

On their biggest day as a cricketing nation, Bangladesh gave an extremely creditable account of themselves and the pressure was on Pakistan to rebuild a stuttering innings at the halfway mark. The talk was about whether Bangladesh would be able to handle the nerves of only their second ODI tournament final, but their bowling was tight and their fielding was energetic, as it had been throughout the tournament. Pakistan stuck to their steady approach at the start but were undone by the sustained pressure Bangladesh exerted.

The Pakistan openers, Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed - who had a century and a double-century stand earlier in the tournament - failed to clear the infield in their attempts to hit out. Younis Khan got a rough lbw decision, Misbah-ul-Haq's hesitation ran him out, and Pakistan were down to Umar Akmal and Hammad Azam, with Shahid Afridi to follow.

Bangladesh had won two games and lost a close third while chasing in this tournament and Mushfiqur Rahim immediately chose to bowl again. Mashrafe Mortaza alternated between conceding fours and appealing for lbw in the opening over. Jamshed clipped a boundary through his favoured on side but survived a close lbw shout next ball. He found the deep square leg boundary with another clip, but Mortaza again hit back with a closer appeal.

Both appeals were turned down but Mortaza was not to be denied in his third over when Jamshed charged at an offcutter, only to scoop it up to cover. An over earlier, Hafeez had survived after appearing to have been caught plumb in front on the back leg by Nazmul Hossain's incoming delivery. Hafeez survived but never looked like hurting Bangladesh.

Bangladesh had no reason to complain about what happened in Nazmul's next over. Younis got a faint inside edge on to his pad but the umpire Ian Gould sent him back. Misbah tried to do his usual rescue act, along with Hafeez, but Bangladesh's fielding had its say when slight hesitation from the Pakistan captain found him short of a direct hit from the sharp Nasir Hossain.

Hafeez did put a few loose ones away but found the fielders more often than not. A charge at Abdur Razzak only resulted in a catch to mid-on. At 70 for 4, the Shere Bangla crowd was right behind their side and Pakistan were in for a long period of rebuilding.