In a thrilling display of fast bowling, Pakistan’s pacers, including Shaheen Afridi (3/23), Mohammad Wasim Jr (3/31), and Haris Rauf (2/36), showcased their skills to bowl Bangladesh out for a modest total of 204 at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday, October 31.
Electing to bat, Bangladesh struggled to find their footing, with only four batsmen reaching double-digit scores, failing to convert their starts into substantial innings. Wickets fell at regular intervals, except for one partnership, and Pakistan’s pacers expertly utilized reverse swing towards the end to wrap up Bangladesh’s innings with 29 deliveries to spare.
The decision by Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib Al Hasan, to bat first may have been influenced by a recent defeat against the Netherlands at the same venue, where they were unable to chase a below-par total. Considering the slow nature of the pitch, Bangladesh aimed to follow their typical white-ball strategy of setting a competitive total and relying on their bowling strength on sluggish surfaces. However, their innings got off to a disastrous start as Shaheen Afridi claimed two early wickets, crossing the milestone of 100 ODI wickets. His deliveries first dismissed Tanzim Hasan LBW with a delivery that came back sharply and then saw Najmul Hossain Shanto chipping a simple catch to short mid-wicket.
Haris Rauf delivered a crucial blow, removing the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim just after he had struck a beautiful boundary on the off-side. With the score at 23/3, Bangladesh was in a precarious position. Mahmudullah was then surprisingly promoted to number five and, alongside Litton Das, they formed a crucial 79-run partnership, weathering the initial storm. Despite the slow pitch, both batsmen accumulated runs with ease and injected momentum into the Bangladesh innings. Unfortunately, their partnership was broken when part-time spinner Iftikhar Ahmed dismissed Litton Das with a soft dismissal.
Following this breakthrough, the run rate slowed considerably, and despite Shakib’s contributions, the Bangladesh captain struggled to find his rhythm, except for one over against Iftikhar. Pakistan’s bowlers cleverly utilized the pitch’s variable bounce and the good length area, making scoring difficult. Mahmudullah appeared set for a significant score before Shaheen Afridi exposed his weaknesses in the pacer’s second spell. The innings took a nosedive, with Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Jr capitalizing on the reverse swing.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz added some quick runs towards the end, pushing the total beyond 200, but it offered little consolation to Bangladesh, who delivered yet another underwhelming performance. The lack of clarity in pacing the innings and the pitch’s unpredictable nature worked against them. Pakistan’s relentless and well-rounded bowling performance was the highlight of the day.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh – 204 in 45.1 overs (Mahmudullah 56, Litton Das 45; Shaheen Afridi 3-23, Mohammad Wasim Jr 3-31) vs Pakistan
Disclaimer: The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.
