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Mirpur: Opener Ahmed Shehzad and Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq struck fluent centuries as Pakistan romped to a 89-run win in their World Cup warm-up match against co-hosts Bangladesh on Tuesday.
Shahid Afridi decided to bat first after winning the toss, and the teenage Shehzad (103 off 122 balls) and Misbah (100 off 100 balls) vindicated their skipper's faith by guiding the team to a solid 285 for nine in the alloted 50 overs, a total which proved sufficient as Bangladesh were bowled out for 196 in 41.4 overs.
Chasing a stiff target, Bangladesh started on a positive note despite losing Tamim Iqbal for nought. But the hosts failed to continue the good work for a prolonged period due to an impressive spell of medium pace bowling by Abdul Razzaq.
The experienced all-rounder went through the defence of Iqbal to give Pakistan a dream start and then, bowled Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Ashraful to put his team on top.
The only phase when Bangladesh seemed like making a fight out of it was when Imrul Kayes and Junaid Siddique were at the crease. The two put on a quickfire half-century stand to bring the hosts back into the game, but the latter's dismissal by Wahab Riaz triggered a collapse which put paid to Bangladesh's hopes.
Earlier Shehzad, all of 19, top-scored for the 1992 winners with 103 off 122 balls - an innings that was studded with nine fours and a six, while Misbah smashed a 100-ball century with eight boundaries and four massive sixes at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.
Pakistan were in a bit of spot when Abdur Razzaq cleaned up Younis Khan in the 14th over with just 58 on the board. This after Shafiul Islam and Rubel Hossain had sent back Mohammad Hafeez and the aggressive Kamran Akmal for poor scores.
But Bangladesh, for the next 28 overs, did not enjoy any success as the Shehzad-Misbah pair raised 152 runs for the fourth wicket at 5.46 runs per over, partnership that proved crucial in the end.
It's still early days but what could slightly worry the Pakistani think-tank going into the mega event is that barring Shehzad and Misbah, none of the batsmen including Afridi, delivered.
Hafeez (21 off 29 balls) got the start but could not capitalise while Umar Akmal, coming in at number nine, remained unbeaten on 19 off 10 deliveries.
Bangladesh used as many as nine bowlers with skipper and slow left-armer Shakib picking up three for 49 off his 10 overs. Seamer Hossain also claimed three wickets, but his 10 overs went for 73 runs.
Brief scores
Pakistan 285 for nine (Ahmed Shehzad 103, Misbah-ul-Haq 100, Shakib 3-49, Rubel Hossain 3-73)
Bangladesh 196 (Imrul Kayes 39, Junaid Siddique 38, Abdul Razzaq 3-31)
Result Pakistan won by 89 runs
