Pakistan dished out a clinical display and continued their unbeaten run in the Asia Cup 2023 with a convincing 7-wicket win over Bangladesh. Having bundled out Shakib Al Hasan’s men for a paltry 193, Babar Azam’s side chased down the required total in just 39.3 overs to begin the Asia Cup Super 4 stage with a bang.
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and elected to bat first on a flat Lahore surface.
Pakistan's Naseem Shah started the match with a bang, he cleaned up Mehidy Hasan Miraz on a golden duck to jolt Bangladesh with an early blow.
Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Litton Das cheaply as the bowlers continued to haunt Bangladesh batters.
Pakistan fans were in for a huge scare as Naseem injured his right shoulder by diving to stop a boundary, he walked off the field with the physios but returned later to bowl further.
When Bangladesh were reeling at 47/4, Shakib joined hands with Mushfiqur Rahim as the pair stitched together an important partnership to steady the ship.
Shakib scored 53 runs in 57 balls, while Rahim top-scored by smashing 64 in 87 balls however after the Bangladesh captain was dismissed, the rest of the side couldn't stitch any more partnerships.
Haris Rauf was the wrecker-in-chief for Pakistan as he picked up a four-wicket haul and became the leading wicket-taker in Asia Cup 2023 with 9 scalps to his name.
With Bangladesh skittled out for 193, Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq began the chase with Fakhar Zaman, and the opener ended up scoring 78 runs.
After Fakhar Zaman's dismissal, Babar Azam joined Imam but the skipper had an off day as he could only score 17 runs before falling prey to Taskin Ahmed.
Mohammad Rizwan took charge of the chase with Imam by his side after Babar's dismissal and the pair put Pakistan on the cusp of win before Imam was dismissed.
Rizwan smashed an unbeaten knock of 63 runs in 79 balls as he saw his side over the line.
Courtesy of the clinical 7-wicket win, Pakistan begin their Super 4 stage on a perfect note and remain unbeaten in Asia Cup 2023 so far.