Pakistan crush BD by 152 runs
Bureau Report

LAHORE—Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 152 runs in a power disrupted one day international (day and night match) in which target was revised two times under Duck Worth Lewis Method here on Monday at Gadaffi stadium.
In a match marred by power failure for about 48 minutes play was lost and the visiting team twice got a revised victory target under DWL Method. Pakistan now lead the five match series 1-0. The second match will be played on April 11 at Faisalabad.
Bangladesh innings, chasing uphill 322, were 53 for 3 in 12 overs when all of sudden the entire stadium plunged into darkness due to a power failure. After a break of 30 minutes the lights were on with the help of standby generators and Bangladesh were set at a revised target of 299 in 43 overs. But the match was once again stopped when lights become dim due to another power fault and both teams again went out of the ground, coming back after 18 minutes and again the target was revised, this time 282 to win in 39 overs.
Pakistani pacers ripped through Bangladesh innings with Sohail Tanvir took three wickets and Iftikhar Anjum got two wickets as Shahid Afridi shone with his spin bowling getting three wickets to lead Pakistan to success, bowling out the visiting team at 129 runs in 29.5 overs
Paceman Sohail Tanvir started rout by removing first three Bangladesh players Tamim Iqbal (5), second top scorer Shahriar Nafees (24) and Aftab Ahmed (14) and then Iftikhar got rid of captain Ashraful (9) and Shakib Al Hasan (0) to leave the touring side at 5 for 66. Afridi claimed the wickets of Farhad Reza (7), Dhiman Ghosh (0) and the top scorer Mashrafe Mortaza (25).
Earlier Pakistan, courtesy a 145 runs 4th wicket partnership between man of the match Mohammad Yousaf (108 not out) and Shoaib Malik (85) reached to an imposing total of 322 for 5 in allotted 50 overs on a flat batting wicket.
As Yousaf demonstrated experience in a blistering knock, Shoaib by large fit in the role of a captain with a fighting knock to lift the side out of early crisis of 70 for 3. The experienced pair shaped up the innings with their head down and Bangladesh found a too high wall to scale in their way as both of them thrilled with stroke play in front of handful crowd. To much disappointment of a depleted Bangladesh attack of seven bowlers Yousaf and Shoaib propelled Pakistan to a decent total which at one stage looked hard to achieve.
Yousaf remained unbeaten consuming 103 ball, forcing 11 fours for 15th century in his 257th ODI. His triple figure and flawless innings of Shoaib helped Pakistan to surpass 300 runs score and Bangladesh had to contend with their early success of removing openers Slaman Butt (33) and Nasir Jamshed (20) both falling to pace man Farhad Reza who finished with two for 52. Younis Khan could manage just one run.
Shoaib ran out of luck for not reaching to a century, caught at long on by Shahriar off Shakib and much was left on Yousaf to accomplish. The superstar batsman was right there and partnered Mishal ul Haq (38) for the 5th wicket to score 68 runs . Misbah forced 2 sixes and one four in 27 balls finaly taken by keeper Ghosh. Shahid Afridi known for his explosive batting,hit two sixes and two fours to score unbeaten (27). Pacer Mashrafe took two wickets for 41 runs
Pakistan Cricket Team Captain, Shoaib Malik said on Tuesday that scoring 300 plus runs was a difficult target to beat and such a big score kept Bangladesh under pressure in the first one day international which Pakistan won by 152 runs here. “It is always difficult to chase over 300 runs and Bangladesh could not come out of the pressure because the target was huge”, he said after the match.
He said the credit of success goes to batsmen and bowlers and it was united effort on part of the team. “Playing Bangladesh in not a fun, it is serious cricket and we are determined to win the series”, he said adding “our aim is to win the series and then try out young players who have shown good performance in the domestic matches”. Pak cricket captain said Mohammad Yousaf played a brilliant knock and he himself justified in the role of captain. “After posting a big total our bowlers put up an equally good show and I look forward for a similar performance in the next match at Faisalabad”, he said.