Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed six wickets and returned with best figures (6/35) ever by a Pakistan bowler in a World Cup match, but his team failed to better their net run-rate in their league game against Bangladesh which they won by 94 runs at the Lord’s on Friday, helping New Zealand to qualify for the semifinals.
With fifth-placed Pakistan needing to break the world record for margin of victory in a one-day international, ton-up Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam shared a 157-run second wicket stand to guide Pakistan to 315/9 in 50 overs after skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed opted to bat.
It meant Bangladesh needed only eight runs to end Pakistan’s hopes of progress and they reached that in the second over.
For Bangladesh, star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan smashed his seventh 50-plus score in eight innings in the 2019 World Cup with a fluent 64 off 77 balls, his innings was laced with six fours. Shakib finished with 606 runs and 11 wickets, the best ever show by an all-rounder in the World Cup.
Promising 19-year old pacer Afridi continued to impress with the ball as he returned career-best figures of 6/35 in 9.1 overs and also became the youngest to take a five-wicket haul in a World Cup.
Afridi took the wickets of Tamim Iqbal (8), Liton Das (32), Shakib, Mahmudullah (29), Mohammad Saifuddin (0) and Mustafizur Rahman (1).
The ball that got Afridi his fifth scalp was a gem of a yorker which Mahmudullah failed to read. He then removed Mustafizur Rahman (1) with a yorker to cap off a dream tournament in which he bagged 16 wickets off just five games.
Brief Scores: Pakistan 315/9 in 50 overs (Imam ul Haq 100, Babar Azam 96; Mustafizur Rahman 5-75, Mohammad Saifuddin 3-77) beat Bangladesh 221 in 44.1 overs (Shakib Al Hasan 64, Liton Das 32; Shaheen Afridi 6-35, Shadab Khan 2-59) by 94 runs.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
A little fuller in length n Shaheen Afridi looks a completely different bowler. Every bowler I've asked has said it's not the easiest thing to do, credit to the youngster #PAKvBAN
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) July 5, 2019
Good win @TheRealPCB and team Pakistan . Important to finish decently. Well batted @babarazam258 and @ImamUlHaq12 . Excellent bowling @iShaheenAfridi 👏.
— Salman Butt (@im_SalmanButt) July 5, 2019
Spirited performance by Pakistan. Outplaying Bagladesh.
But a sad end to our World Cup campaign. Small things here & there could have changed things for us.
A decent show overall.
Defeated England, South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan & Bangladesh.#PAKvBAN #CWC2019— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) July 5, 2019
Points then Head to Head then a duck worth Lewis system would be the way I would go for the next World Cup … Net Run rates are garbage … #CWC19
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 5, 2019
Most wickets by a teenager in World Cups (16) ☑️
Youngest to take a five-wicket haul at a @cricketworldcup ☑️
Best figures by a Pakistan bowler at a World Cup (3/36) ☑️Ladies and gentlemen once again, @iShaheenAfridi 🦅👏🏼#CWC19 #PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/ylgUA2JRIw
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 5, 2019
Ummeed pe duniya Kaayam hay. Aaj wo sach Nahi hay… #PakvsBan
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) July 5, 2019
I hate net run rate #CWC19 #PAKvsBANG
— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) July 5, 2019
Remember the name – Shaheen Shah Afridi
LIVE Scorecard –> https://t.co/TveT16jAsu#PAKvBAN #CWC19 #BANvPAK pic.twitter.com/3pmzm9UASP— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) July 5, 2019
Shaheen Shah Afridi is the Man of the Match for his blitz with the ball.#CWC19 #PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/pP7NyRnAV0
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 5, 2019
