DHAKA:
Shahid Afridi smashed the second fastest one-day half-century and Ahmed
Shehzad hit a hundred to give Pakistan a three wicket win over
Bangladesh on Tuesday and a place in the Asia Cup final.
The
34-year-old, who hit two consecutive sixes to give Pakistan a one-wicket
win over India on Sunday, was once again Pakistan's saviour as they
chased down their highest-ever target of 327 in 49.5 overs in Dhaka.
Afridi
overshadowed a brilliant 123-ball 103 by opener Ahmed Shehzad and a
sedate 74 by Fawad Alam who both set the tone for the chase, but it was
the aggression of Afridi which helped Pakistan overcame a tough
resistance from the hosts.
Pakistan will meet Sri Lanka in Saturday's final.
Afridi,
who went into bat with Pakistan needing 101 off 52 balls, smashed
paceman Shafiul Islam for a four to reach fifty off just 18 balls, one
short of one-day cricket's fastest-ever half-century record held by Sri
Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya, made against Pakistan in Singapore in 1996.
He
equalled his own record of second fastest one-day fifty, set twice by
him. He scored an 18-ball fifty during his 37-ball hundred against Sri
Lanka in Nairobi in 1996 and another 18-ball fifty against the
Netherlands at Colombo in 2002. In all, Afridi took seven sixes and two
boundaries off just 25 balls.
Pakistan's previous best run chase in a one-day was 322-6 against India at Mohali in 2007.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq praised Afridi as "hero."
"He's really playing well and he's cashing into his form which is really good for us," said Misbah.
"Everybody
knows the kind of player he (Afridi) is when he is in full swing and
nobody can stop him." Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim admitted Afridi
snatched the game.
"When Afridi plays like that there was very little we can do. He took away the game," said Rahim.
Before
Afridi's blitz, it was a remarkable turnaround for the hosts who
suffered a shock upset defeat against new-comers Afghanistan in their
second match on Saturday. Bangladesh made several changes after their
32-run loss, the most prominent being all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan's
return after he was suspended for three matches over indiscipline.
That
paid off as a revamped batting line-up led by Anamul bettered
Bangladesh's previous highest-ever total of 320-8, made against Zimbabwe
in Bulawayo in 2009.
Pakistan too got a solid 97-runs by the 21st over with Mohammad Hafeez (52) and Shehzad in a punishing mood.
But
they were derailed by left-arm spinner Mominul Haque (2-37) who
dismissed Hafeez and Sohaib Maqsood (two), while Shakib had captain
Misbah-ul Haq for four.
Shehzad completed his fifth one-day
hundred but was bowled by Abdur Razzak, after hitting 12 fours and six.
Shehzad added 105 runs for the fourth wicket with Alam.
But Alam and Afridi broke the hearts of a capacity home crowd after Bangladesh had been given a chance by their batsmen.
Anamul and Imrul Kayes (59) put on 150 for the opening stand and cashed onto some sloppy fielding and bowling by Pakistan.
Afridi went for 64 runs in his ten overs while paceman Mohammad Talha conceded 68 in seven and Umar Gul 76 in his 10.
But
it was the left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, brought in as one of two
changes in Pakistan's squad, who suffered the worst fate as he was
suspended from the attack over dangerous bowling.
He became the first bowler in international cricket to concede eight runs without bowling a legal delivery.
Kayes hit five boundaries and two sixes off 75 balls.
Anamul hit six boundaries and four well-timed sixes before he was caught off Saeed Ajmal who took 2-61.
Mominul
(51), Rahim (51 not out) and Shakib with a 16-ball 44 comprising six
fours and two sixes, made the final touches as Bangladesh scored 121 in
the last 10 overs.
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