Pakistan beat Bangladesh in warm-up match

Tribune

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 88 runs in the World Cup warm-up match on Tuesday.

Bangladesh, chasing the 286-run target set by Pakistan, were bowled out for 196 in the 42nd over at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

Teenage opener Ahmed Shehzad and Test skipper Misbahul Haq both smashed centuries as Pakistan piled up 285-9 in the first innings to set up the win.

All-rounder Abdul Razzaq was the leading wicket-taker for Pakistan with three wickets for 31 runs while Mohammad Hafeez took two wickets for 41 runs and left arm spinner Abdur Rehman took two for 21.

Captain Shahid Afridi and Wahab Riaz also took one wicket each.

Shehzad, just 19, top-scored with 103 off 122 balls with nine fours and one six while Misbah cracked a run-a-ball century with eight boundaries and four giant sixes.

Despite the pair’s pyrotechnics, Pakistan’s other batsmen failed to fire with the next best score being a modest 21 from opener Mohammad Hafeez.

Bangladesh used nine bowlers with skipper and slow left-armer Shakib Al Hasan taking 3-49 off his 10 overs.

Seamer Rubel Hossain also claimed three wickets, but his 10 overs cost 73 runs.

Pakistan consolidate to 134-2 in reply to NZ's 356

Geo
WELLINGTON: Taufeeq Umar and Azhar Ali both stroked patient half centuries after the loss of an early wicket to guide Pakistan to 134 for two in reply to New Zealand's 356 at the end of play on the second day of the second Test at the Basin Reserve on Sunday.

Taufeeq blotted his copybook when he was dismissed on the last ball of the day, caught in close by Martin Guptill off Daniel Vettori for 70.

Azhar was not out 62 after he and Taufeeq had combined for a 132-run partnership following the early loss of Mohammad Hafeez for one, when he was given out caught by wicketkeeper Reece Young off Tim Southee to leave Pakistan reeling at 2-1.

Hafeez was unlucky to be given out as replays raised doubts as to whether he had hit the ball.

Taufeeq, however, was the beneficiary of not having the umpire review system in use during the series when he prodded forward to a sharply turning Vettori delivery and Young took a backhanded catch after juggling the ball four times.

Television replays showed he had got a large inside edge on to his pad before Young took the catch. It was the sixth possible decision that could have been overturned by the review system.

New Zealand's innings had been boosted by captain Daniel Vettori's sixth Test century, which was brought up amongst some tense moments at the Basin Reserve.

Vettori resumed after lunch on 79 but accelerated his scoring rate when he lost Southee (one) in the first over after the break and had just Brent Arnel and Chris Martin to come.

The New Zealand captain was on 96 when Arnel was trapped in front for one by Umar Gul and tension rose as the crowd wondered if Vettori would achieve the milestone with Martin striding to the crease to face three deliveries.

Martin's lack of prowess with the bat has attained cult status in New Zealand -- he only scored his 100th Test run in his 60th Test and 87th innings last week, however he survived the three deliveries, even deflecting one to the boundary.