Fahim heroics stun Tigers
Fahim Ashraf, a player who is yet to make his debut in international cricket, channelled his inner Shahid Afridi to lead Pakistan to a two-wicket win against Bangladesh in a warm-up match yesterday.
The Tigers seemed in control when they had sent back Shoaib Malik and had Pakistan teetering at 227 for six with just under 12 overs to go, but they let it slip when the heat was on.
23-year-old Fahim came in with Pakistan needing 99 runs from 9.3 overs and with three wickets in hand, but the situation quickly worsened as Imad Wasim departed just seven runs later.
However, much like Tamim Iqbal's authoritative innings before the exchange, Fahim -- who walloped an unbeaten 64 off 30 balls with four fours and as many sixes -- took full advantage of the ridiculous shorter boundary, which measured approximately 40 yards from the wicket, and brought up his fifty off just 26 balls.
The left-hander hit Mashrafe Bin Mortaza for a couple of huge sixes in the 48th over, before dispatching the same bowler for a six off the first ball of the last over, when Pakistan required 13.
He picked up three off the next ball and Hasan Ali hit the Bangladesh skipper for four to bring an end to the match. An incredible partnership between the pair blossomed as a result of Fahim's hitting as the duo put on 93 runs off 41 balls for the ninth wicket.
Earlier, Bangladesh had posted 341 for nine on the back of an authoritative Tamim Iqbal century. Tamim took full advantage of the short boundary as he went on a rampage -- his 102 off 93 balls was punctuated by nine fours and four sixes.
More importantly, the left-hander stuck around at the crease for more than half the innings as well, playing 33 overs and building valuable partnerships with Imrul Kayes and Mushfiqur Rahim.
With Sabbir Rahman being rested, Tamim set about repairing the innings with his former opening partner Imrul after Soumya Sarkar had departed for 19. The pair put on a magnificent 142-run stand in just over 20 overs to put Bangladesh on the ascendancy and banish any memories of that early hiccup.
Kayes, playing his first match on the tour, scored 61 off 62 balls and hit eight boundaries before he fell to Pakistan's rising star Shadab Khan, getting trapped in front.
Tamim then joined hands with Mushfiqur as the pair powered Bangladesh 219 in 33 overs with a 50-run partnership. The former then departed after offering a simple catch to Junaid, giving Shadab his second wicket.
Three overs later, Shoaib Malik produced a moment of magic as he took a fantastic catch off Junaid's bowling to send Mushfiqur back to the pavilion. The Test skipper was the third-highest scorer in the team with 46.
Afterwards Shakib, Mahmudullah and Mosaddek scored in the 20s to take Bangladesh to their total.