PAK vs BAN: Pakistan thrash Bangladesh by 7 wickets to take early lead in Super Fours of Asia Cup 2023

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Pakistan stayed unbeaten in the Asia Cup 2023 by beating Bangladesh by seven wickets in the first Super Fours match of the Asia cup 2023 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday.

In a clinical performance, Bangladesh bundled out the opposition in their third consecutive outing in the continental showpiece event before chasing down the 194-run target with 63 balls to spare.

Earlier, Pakistan bundled out Nepal for 104 in their first match and wrapped up Indian innings at 266 in the second. With emphatic win, Pakistan now also have a solid positive Net Run Rate (NRR) of 1.051.

Fakhar Zaman (20 off 31) got out after another start and Babar Azam could also manage 17 off 22, but an 85-run partnership off 104 balls for the third wicket between opener Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan made the game a one-sided affair.

Imam smashed a solid 78 off 84 before being clean bowled by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, while Rizwan stayed unbeaten on 63 off 79. Agha Salman (12* off 21) finished the match with a reverse sweep for four off Shakib Al Hasan.

Earlier, Haris Rauf- Man of the Match in Lahore - proved to be too quick for the Bangladeshi batters, who were also troubled relentlessly by Naseem Shah as the Shakib Al Hasan-led side was bundled out for a paltry 193 in 38.4 overs.

Despite a 100-run stand and twin half-centuries by skipper Shakib (53 off 57 balls) and former captain Mushfiqur Rahim (64 off 87 balls), Bangladesh suffered twin batting collapses on either side of the fifth wicket partnership. They were reduced to 47 for 4 during the first Powerplay and again lost six wickets for 47 runs between overs 30 to 39.

Rauf (4/19 in 6 overs) terrorised the batters with sheer pace while Naseem (3/34 in 5.4 overs) also added seam and swing with it. He dismissed Miraz, Bangladesh's centurion in their previous match against Afghanistan, for a first-ball duck.

Shaheen Afridi picked the wicket of comeback man Liton Das who hit four boundaries en route to his 13-ball 16 before being surprised by the extra bounce and edging one into the hands of Rizwan. Faheem Ashraf and Iftikhar Ahmed also picked a wicket each.

Bangladesh will next face Sri Lanka on Saturday, September 9. Pakistan will lock horns with India on September 10. Both the matches will be played in Colombo.