Published on 11:37 AM, November 06, 2022

Afridi takes four as Bangladesh implode around Shanto's fifty

Bangladesh's Captain Shakib Al Hasan (L) reacts on umpire Adrian Thomas Holdstock's decision for his dismissal during the ICC men's Twenty20 World Cup 2022 cricket match between Pakistan and Bangladesh at Adelaide Oval on November 6, 2022 in Adelaide. Photo: AFP

Shaheen Shah Afridi took four wickets to restrict Bangladesh to 127 for eight in their crucial T20 World Cup Super 12 fixture in Adelaide on Sunday, with the winners certain to qualify for the semifinals.

Afridi, who took four wickets for 22 runs, proved to be the wrecker-in-chief, hauling Bangladesh's progress following a decent start as they reached 70 for one in 10 overs.

Opener Najmul Hossain Shanto was the mainstay of Bangladesh innings with a 48-ball 54 – his second half-century of the tournament, but a collapse of the middle order saw Bangladesh throw away a great start.

Afif Hossain's unbeaten 24 off 20 balls added some respectability to the total towards the end, but the main talking point of the innings was Shakib Al Hasan's controversial dismissal.

Shakib danced down the wicket and tried to flick one against Shadab Khan, who had Soumya caught off the previous ball. The ball struck Shakib's leg even as he came down more than three metres. The umpire, after a long look, raised his finger but Shakib immediately took a review.

Even as the replays suggested Shakib had a tiny edge on to the bat before the ball hit his pads, the on-field umpire's decision was stayed. The Bangladesh skipper, dumbfounded, spoke to the umpires twice before dragging himself off the ground.

From 73 for 1 in the eleventh over, Bangladesh suddenly became 73 for three and they kept losing wickets regularly, despite some letoff in the field courtesy of Pakistan fielders.