Pakistan coast to easy win over Bang

By Shamik Chakrabarty

Dhaka

June 8: Pakistan stretched their ODI winning streak to 12 in a row as they decimated Bangladesh by 70 runs in the Kitply Cup lung opener at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium here on Sunday.

It turned out to be a no contest except for the last few overs of the Pakistan innings when they lost wickets in a heap.

Still, 233 was a solid enough cushion for a bowling attack that was formidable even without Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif.

Pakistan needed to get into a groove ahead of their tie against India. They also wanted a win to shift the focus from the Asif controversy.

Targets achieved, they are now ready to face a stiffer challenge with their tails up.

Young left-arm quick Wahab Riaz (3/22) and Shahid Afridi (3/19) were the bowling heroes for the winners, while Umar Gul chipped in with a couple of wickets in his second spell.

For Bangladesh to get to 234, skipper Mohammad Ashraful had to fire. He made a laborious 56 not out (93b) instead. That was the end of the story.

Earlier, Misbah-ul Haq dazzled after Salman Butt (70) and Mohammad Yousuf (59) laid a solid foundation with showers reducing the match to 40-overs a side.

Butt, who had amassed 451 runs in the home series against Bangladesh continued from where he left off. Kamran Akmal (25) stayed with him and Pakistan got off to a steady start.

Debutant Dolar Mahmud provided the first breakthrough for the hosts in the 12th over as Akmal slashed hard to an away swinger and managed only a thin edge to the keeper.

Younis Khan was run out without facing a ball, but Yousuf batted with ease and raced to his 62nd ODI half-century in 47 deliveries.

Butt, at the other end was in total control and the duo put on 65 runs for the third wicket before the southpaw holed out at long on.