Sports
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| Hameed,
Akhtar guide Pakistan to comfortable win The decision was never in doubt after defending champions Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first on a slow and low track. Although run making was not easy openers Yasir Hameed and Imran Farahat stringed together a 86 run stand to give the Pakistanis an ideal platform. After the dismissal of Farahat (28) and Shoaib Malik (03) in quick succession Hameed was joined by skipper Inzamam ul Haq. Together they added 109 runs in 127 balls as Pakistan set the stage for an imposing total. Opener Hameed who started off sedately gradually gained confidence as he tore into the Bangladeshi attack. Hameed reached his century in 118 balls with the help of 10 boundaries. Skipper Haq as always was in devastating form as he plundered four boundaries and two sixes in a 66 ball 58 before being stumped off leg spinner Abdur Razzaq. The dismissal of Haq was followed by Hameeds exit for 102 and the Bangladeshis began to put the brakes on the Pakistani batsmen before a late flurry from Yousuf Youhana (29 n o) helped Pakistan to 257 for 6 wickets in 50 overs. The Bangladeshis started off confidently with openers Javed Omar and Mohamed Ashraful adding 48 runs in the first 10 overs. However medium pacer Mohamed Sami struck a double blow in successive overs to send back Ashraful and skipper Habibul Bashar and Bangladesh slumped to 52 for two wickets. Opener Javed Omar overcame cramps as he battled bravely to compile his second successive half century in two days, but received no support from any other Bangladeshi batsmen.Omar who required the assistance of a runner reached 62 off 67 balls before being unfortunately run out for 62. Medium pacer Shoaib Akhtar who went wicketless in his first spell returned to rock the Bangladeshi middle order with a three wicket burst to put the writing on the wall for the Bangladeshis who eventually folded for 181 runs. |
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