PAK VS BAN - 31st Match, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

Bangladesh's misery continues. Six losses in a row and they are officially out of the semi-final race. It's been a forgettable campaign for them. Pakistan, meanwhile, end their four-match losing streak in style. They significantly improve their NRR as well to move to the fifth spot. On that note, it's time to bring the curtains down on this all-Asian encounter. Tune in tomorrow for New Zealand (#3) vs South Africa (#2). Until then, goodbye...

Babar Azam: All credit to the boys the way we played in all three departments. We know, if Fakhar bats for 20-30 overs, it's a different ball game, he played his natural game. Good to see him. We are trying to win the next two matches, we'll see where we stand. We started well, the way Shaheen started. After 15-20 overs, they built a partnership, our main bowlers picked wickets. We picked wickets in the middle overs. Thank you (fans) so much for the support.

Shakib Al Hasan: Not enough runs, The wicket was really good, we lost early wickets again. There were some partnerships, but not big partnerships. Disappointing with the bat. Credit should go to Pakistan, the way they bowled and the way they batted in the first 10 overs. (On his batting position) We'll have to think about that. We are not getting many runs from the top four batsmen. I was batting in the top four, I wasn't scoring. My confidence was low too. Luckily I got some runs, felling better now. At this moment, changing too many things gets difficult. We have to keep moving forward. We have to perform together. We need collective performance, which is not happening. Two more matches, hopefully we can bounce back. Everywhere we go, they (fans) keep supporting us. We have to give something back to them so they can smile.

Stats by Roshan Gede

Most 50-plus scores for Pakistan in a World Cup edition
5 - Javed Miandad, 1992
4 - Misbah-ul-Haq, 2015
4 - Babar Azam, 2019
4 - Abdullah Shafique, 2023

Most sixes by Pakistan in a World Cup innings
16 vs ZIM, Kingston, 2007
10 vs UAE, Napier, 2015
9 vs AFG, Chennai, 2023
9 vs BAN, Kolkata, 2023
8 vs SA, Chennai, 2023

Instances of Pakistan scoring at over 6 RPO in a WC run-chase
7.13 vs SL, Hyderabad, 2023 (target: 345, won)
6.70 vs AUS, Bengaluru, 2023 (target: 368, lost)
6.30 vs BAN, Kolkata, 2023 (target: 205, won)
6.22 vs UAE, Gujranwala, 1996 (target: 110, won)

Fakhar Zaman | Player of the Match - After the Asia Cup, I practiced a lot on my batting, I was looking good at the camp and was looking forward to making it to the team. Today, my hard work paid off after I was given a chance. I told Abdullah that I will see off the first few overs, I knew I could hit big sixes. My role is to make it easy for my partner, so it was important to see off the first few overs and then play my shots. NRR was in our mind after we reached 100, the aim was to finish it off in 30 overs. I had too many failures, I was looking towards such a knock and hopefully I'll make bigger scores in the next few games.

20:36 Local Time, 15:06 GMT, 20:36 IST: Pakistan bring out their A-game in Kolkata to keep their hopes alive. They made three changes to their XI and were asked to bowl first on a very dry pitch. Shaheen Afridi set the tone upfront with a couple of wickets and then came back later to dismiss a well-set Mahmudullah with a beauty. Haris Rauf nipped out the two most experienced Bangladeshi batters. Iftikhar broke a crucial partnership. Mohammad Wasim ran through the tail with pace and reverse swing. Usama Mir was expensive but even he picked up a wicket. There were hardly any fielding errors and Pakistan skittled out their opponents for 204. In reply, the openers ensured that the chase would be a cakewalk. Abdullah Shafique notched up his fourth 50+ score of the tournament playing eye-pleasing strokes. Fakhar Zaman, in his comeback game, showed how dangerous he can be at the top of the order. Smashed seven sixes and three fours to extinguish any hopes in the Bangladeshi camp. Pakistan lost three wickets, all to Mehidy, but that was in a quest to up the ante. A clinical win with 17.3 overs to spare. Stick around for the presentations...

Shakib to Rizwan, 1 run, 78.9kph, flighted ball, pushed towards the cover region for a quick single. Pakistan win by 7 wickets | Bangladesh knocked out of the semi-final race!

Shakib to Rizwan, no run, 84.4kph, full delivery, Rizwan drives to extra cover

Shakib to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, 80.1kph, flighted delivery, Iftikhar moves leg-side and flicks to the right of long-on. Scores level

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, 81.9kph, offbreak on a good length, punched to long-on

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Iftikhar Ahmed, 2 runs, flicked square of the short fine leg fielder for a couple of runs

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Iftikhar Ahmed, no run, gets down to sweep and inside-edges to the right of short fine leg

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Iftikhar Ahmed, no run, 84.5kph, moves leg-side and cuts straight to extra cover

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Rizwan, 1 run, spins in from a length, leg-lined, nudged to the left of short fine leg

Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, 81.1kph, slow through the air, Iftikhar Ahmed shapes up to slog across the line but decides to just knock it down to long-on

Shakib to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, 82.4kph, cut to deep point

Shakib to Iftikhar Ahmed, no run, 80kph, non-turner on middle and leg, played back at the bowler