Skipper Afridi scored a blistering 49 off just 19 balls in Pakistan’s
commanding total of 201 for five before taking two wickets, including
that of danger man Tamim Iqbal, as Bangladesh made 146 for six in its 20
overs.
He himself recovered from fever but sent temperatures rising at the Eden
Gardens on Wednesday. Shahid Afridi stormed into the middle and then
blew away the attack with strokes of thunder. What an onslaught!
The explosive Afridi’s 19-ball 49 shut Bangladesh out of the contest in
this ICC World Twenty20 duel. His blitzkrieg also served as a warning to
the rest of the sides.
An all-action man even in his 20th year in international cricket, Afridi
was in the thick of things with his probing leg-spin too as Pakistan,
defending an imposing 201, romped home by 55 runs on a good batting
wicket.
Afridi was undoubtedly the Man of the Match. He also seemed a man on a
mission after promoting himself to No. 4, pounding the attack with some
heavyweight punches. Bangladesh was never really in the hunt on the
chase. Left-armer Mohammed Amir, smooth, sharp and incisive, cleaned up a
hesitant Soumya Sarkar’s off-stump.
Bangladesh continued its downhill journey. Shakib Al Hasan may have
serious issues to sort out in his bowling – his balance at release point
appears awry – but was the lone batsman to offer resistance with an
unbeaten 50.
Quick off the blocks
Earlier, the Pakistan batsmen dominated. If under a mental siege in the
Asia Cup, they broke the barriers of self-doubts and pressure here after
the spin of the coin was won by Afridi. The Pakistani batsmen were
quick off the blocks and did not take the foot off the accelerator. The
Bangladesh bowling, never allowed to settle into any sort of rhythm, was
ruthlessly dismissed.
Sarkar's sublime catch
Sharjeel Khan sizzled briefly before falling to a quicker one from
left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny. Then comeback man Ahmed Shehzad (52) and
the reliable Mohammad Hafeez (64) picked the gaps and scattered the
field during their influential 95-run second-wicket association in 11.2
overs.
Both batsmen employed their feet, were fluent on either side of
the wicket. When they lofted, the duo did so with authority. Then,
Afridi cut loose. Two strokes stood out for their sheer audacity and
power. Paceman Al-Amin Hossain was hoisted over long-on with flourish
for the maximum. And seamer Taskin Ahmed was flat-batted beyond
extra-cover for a sensational six.
The only moment of brilliance for Bangladesh was a terrific catch by
Sarkar – he palmed the ball up, crossed the ropes and then jumped back
in – at deep mid-wicket to dismiss Hafeez off Sunny.
There was a moment of concern when Umar Akmal, during his brief stay,
was spoken to by the umpires after a verbal altercation with the
Bangladesh fielders. Despite all the security while entering the
stadium, the goodly crowd enjoyed its time on the arena.
In a show of unison, the spectators had their camera flashes on in
unison creating a sea of radiant light in the stands. This, indeed, was a
game where Afridi shone bright.
PAK 201/5 (20.0 Ovs)
BAN 146/6 (20.0 Ovs)
Pakistan won by 55 runs
No comments:
Post a Comment