Gaddafi Stadium in Pakistan hosted the Super Four opener of the Asia Cup 2023. The hosts won against Bangladesh by 7 wickets and 63 balls on a pitch that averages around 225 runs in the first innings. In 38.4 overs, the visitors could only score 193 while losing 10 wickets. Pakistan presumably benefited from home-field advantage, which allowed them to lose only three wickets and secure the victory.
It will be the momentum that they carry into upcoming matches, particularly the one scheduled for September 10, 2023, against India.
Haris Rauf was named the Player of the Match for taking four wickets in six overs. He gave away just 19 runs. Following in his predecessor’s footsteps, Naseem Shah took three wickets with the new ball in the second over. In 5.4 overs, his deliveries yielded an economy of 6.00. Shaheen Afridi did get the start that he always gets; however, that was it for the left-arm fast-medium pacer. Working wonders for him was a maiden over out of the 7 overs that he delivered.
Babar Azam went a little extreme to hand over the ball to Salman Ali Agha. It was for a single over in which 11 runs were scored. However, the intention to introduce a change in Bangladesh’s batting order was duly carried out.
Bangladesh lost 4 wickets and scored 47 runs during the first powerplay. That corresponds to a strike rate of nearly 4.70 runs per over. Shakib Al Hasan’s team needed some magic. This occurred as the fifth wicket did not fall during the subsequent 100-run partnership. Before it went down the hill, the scoreboard read 147.
Wickets kept falling, with Rauf going for two batters consecutively in the 38th over. Best online betting sites for cricket are finally inclined to display positive results for hosts. Rahim, a set batter, got a send-off when he was batting at 64 runs. Ahmed’s story is different; he left the moment he played the first ball. Both were caught behind the wicket by Rizwan.
Azam stuck to 17 runs on 22 balls. This includes four. Rizwan remained unbeaten, with Agha scoring a half-century. Imam-ul-Haq displayed similar skills and contributed 78 runs in 84 balls.
The Bangla skipper usually picks up good wickets with an economical spell. He was reasonably economical on September 6, 2023, but he did not take a single wicket. Shoriful captured the opening batter. He bowled an additional 8 overs, allowing 24 runs at an economy of 3.
Pakistan is now at the top of the table with 2 points and an NRR of +1.051. Bangladesh has no points against their name except for a negative NRR of -1.051.
Bangladesh will next play against Sri Lanka, and Pakistan will face their arch-rivals on the day that follows during the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2023 ODI format.
