Kolkata: Riding on Shahid Afridi’s all round performance Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 55 runs at the Eden Gardens in a group league encounter of the ICC World T20 on Wednesday. Shahid Afridi shines with both bat and the ball. He scored a blistering 49 off 19 balls and took 2 wickets for 27 runs. He was later adjudged the man of the match.
The Pakistan skipper led by example blasting 49 off only 19 balls with winners scoring a massive 201 for five after opting to bat.
Afridi then bowled his super fast leg-breaks to grab 2/27 in four overs to restrict Bangladesh to 146 for six in their stipulated 20 overs on a batting friendly Eden Gardens track.
He deservingly got ‘Man of the Match’ award and also the victory was a sweet revenge for Pakistan, who were ousted from Asia Cup by Mashrafe Mortaza’s men only a couple of weeks back.
Afridi very rarely plays rampaging innings these days but on Wednesday afternoon, he did show why he is known as ‘Boom boom’ as balls disappeared thick and fast into stands.
He hit four sixes apart from equal number of boundaries and his innings was the difference between 150 and 200.
Before Afridi’s carnage, Ahmed Shehzad (52 from 39 balls; 8×4) and Mohammad Hafeez (64 from 42b; 7×4, 2×6) had laid the foundation with a 95-run partnership from 68 balls.
Afridi got the perfect platform as he took just one single to settle down before smashing Mortaza for consecutive boundaries and a six.
Afridi was exquisite with his shot selection and had all the time to improvise as he raced to 25 from nine balls toying Bangladesh bowlers with ease on a fast outfield.
Such was his power that his mistimed shots went over boundary and the 25,000-plus present in stands mostly comprised die-hard Afridi fans.
Afridi’s blitzkrieg along with half centuries from Hafeez and Shehzad meant that their batting came to fore ahead of March 19’s big match against traditional rivals India who will be looking for survival after their loss to New Zealand on Tuesday.
In reply, Bangladesh were in no way in the game and the fast and furious Mohammad Amir provided the perfect start unsettling Soumya Sarkar’s offstump in the third ball.
Amid loud cheers, Afridi brought himself on in the sixth over and angled one into Sabbir Rahaman (25) cramping him for room as he was bowled.
Incidentally, Pakistan’s highest T20 International total was also scored against the same opposition when they piled 203/5 in April 2008.
Earlier, having lost the early wicket of Sharjeel Khan (18) in the third over, Hafeez and Shehzad laid the foundation for Pakistan in their match turning second-wicket partnership that came off just 68 balls.
A day after getting his suspect action tested in Chennai, left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny who was drafted into the side in place of Abu Hider Rony, provided the first breakthrough in dismissing Khan after Pakistan elected to bat.
Bangladeshi bowlers struggled to adjust their length to the conditions and either bowled full or two short and it did not help their cause. Barring a spectacular acrobatic catch by Soumya Sarkar to dismiss Hafeez, the fielding looked sloppy.
There were also some heated exchange between Tamim Iqbal and Hafeez but it did not last long with the Pakistani batsman getting out in the next over. Afridi
Pakistan’s next WT20 match is against India on Saturday here, a venue where the visitors have never lost to the home team before.
“I don’t want to talk about the past, I don’t live in past. I think we should learn from our mistakes. We have done well against these guys and India have been playing good cricket, even with the last loss. We won this match and everyone is feeling good after this win,” said Afridi at the post match press conference.
Talking about his captaincy, Afridi said: “Captaincy is not an easy job, but when the team gives 100 per cent, I enjoy it. People expect me to bat and ball and I enjoy both.”
Mohammad Hafeez who scored a 42 ball 64said that they enjoyed the unpredictable tag. “ We are a unpredictable side. We enjoyed the unpredictable tag. We won the 92’ World Cup from similar conditions.
Hafeez also praised Afridi’s decision to bat up the order.
“I have played here before for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. Although the conditions have changed I have some very good memories here”.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said they lost the match in the first six overs.
“200 is always difficult with Pakistan bowling attack.
Mortaza also admitted that they judged the pitch wrong.”I thought there would be grass in the pitch”.
“Afridi’s innings made all the difference” he further added.
This is only the second time that Pakistan have scored 200 plus run. Incidentally in 2008 they have scored 203 against Bangladesh.