Sakib al Hasan touched a new height with the bat but Bangladesh were not able to reap the benefit as they suffered a 94-run loss to Pakistan to end their World Cup campaign on a disappointing note at Lord’s on Friday.
Pakistan’s new pace bowling sensation Shaheen Afridi picked up 6-35 to bowl out Bangladesh for 221 in 44.1 overs after Imam-ul Haq’s run-a-ball century and Babar Azam’s 96 powered Pakistan to 315-9 batting first.
Sakib was the only shining light in Bangladesh’s innings with 64 off 77 balls, which was not enough to knock off such a massive target and Tigers failed inevitably.
Sakib’s seventh fifty-plus innings took his run past 600-run in the World Cup and joined him with Sachin Tendulkar and Mathew Hayden in a select group to achieve the milestone.
Sakib signed off with 606 runs, well short of Tendulkar’s record 673 in 2003, yet was applauded with a loud cheer as he trudged back to the dressing room being dismissed by Afridi.
Apart from Sakib’s milestone, Bangladesh’s success in the game was limited to denying Pakistan a semi-final spot after restricting the side with an inadequate score on the back of Mustafizur Rahman’s five-wicket haul.
Pakistan were knocked out after Bangladesh reached seven runs owing to a drop catch of Soumya Sarkar by Haris Sohail at slip off the bowling of Mohammad Amir.
It did not, however, take Pakistan long to end Bangladesh’s resistance as Amir dismissed Soumya for 22 and Afridi bowled Tamim Iqbal through the gates to bring an end to a disappointing World Cup.
After Mushfiqur Rahim chopped down one onto his stumps off Wahab Riaz for 16 and Afridi deceived Liton Das with a slower ball to force him to give a catch to Sohail at extra cover for 32 and it was left to Sakib to take Bangladesh through.
But the pressure was too much for Sakib to handle as he missed a cut to edge one behind the stumps and it rendered Bangladesh’s World Cup into a mere formality.
Bangladesh were expected to do better with bat after a late fight back by their bowlers, which saw Mustafiz finishing with 5-75, his second successive five wicket haul in the tournament.
