Kolkata: Stung by unwarranted criticism, Shahid Afridi gave a fitting reply with a brilliant all-round performance guiding his team to a comprehensive 55-run win over Bangladesh in a group league encounter of the ICC World T20, here this evening.
The Pakistan skipper led by example blasting 49 off only 19 balls with winners scoring a massive 201 for five after opting to bat.
Afridi then bowled his superfast leg-breaks to grab 2/27 in four overs to restrict Bangladesh to 146 for six in their stipulated 20 overs on a batting friendly Eden Gardens track.
He deservingly got ‘Man of the Match’ award and also the victory was a sweet revenge for Pakistan, who were ousted from Asia Cup by Mashrafe Mortaza’s men only a couple of weeks back.
Afridi very rarely plays rampaging innnings these days but on Wednesday afternoon, he did show why he is known as ‘Boom boom’ as balls disappeared thick and fast into stands.
He hit four sixes apart from equal number of boundaries and his innings was the difference between 150 and 200. Before Afridi’s carnage, Ahmed Shehzad (52 from 39 balls; 8×4) and Mohammad Hafeez (64 from 42b; 7×4, 2×6) had laid the foundation with a 95-run partnership from 68 balls.(PTI)
score board
Pakistan innings
Sharjeel Khan b Arafat Sunny 18
Ahmed Shehzad c Mahmudullah b Sabbir Rahman 52
Mohammad Hafeez c S. Sarkar b Arafat Sunny 64
Shahid Afridi* c Mahmudullah b Taskin Ahmed 49
Umar Akmal c Shakib Al Hasan b Taskin Ahmed 0
Shoaib Malik not out 15
Imad Wasim not out 0
Extras 03
Total 201/5
Bangladesh innings
Tamim Iqbal c Imad Wasim b Shahid Afridi 24
Soumya Sarkar b Mohammad Amir 0
Sabbir Rahman b Shahid Afridi 25
Shakib Al Hasan not out 50
Mahmudullah c Sharjeel Khan b Imad Wasim 04
Mushfiqur Rahim† c †Sarfraz b Mohammad Amir 18
Mohammad Mithun c Mohd. Amir b Mohammad Irfan 02
Mashrafe Mortaza* not out 15
Extras 08
Total 146/6