LAHORE: Haris Rauf’s four-fer, followed by Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan’s half-centuries powered Pakistan to a resounding seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s fixture on Wednesday.

Set to chase 194, Pakistan comfortably amassed the total for the loss of just three wickets with 63 balls to spare, courtesy of anchoring half-centuries by Imam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Rizwan.

Pakistan had a contrasting start to their pursuit as their opening pair could add 35 runs for the first wicket before Shoriful Islam dismissed Fakhar Zaman in the 10th over.

Fakhar could score 20 off 31 deliveries, hitting three boundaries.

Following his dismissal, Babar Azam joined Imam in the middle and put on a cautious 39-run partnership before Taskin Ahmed castled the Pakistan captain to cause a stir in the pursuit.

Babar scored 17 off 22 deliveries with the help of a boundary.

Coming out to bat at number four, Mohammad Rizwan launched recovery with opener Imam as the pair batted sensibly on their way to a gritty 85-run partnership.

Imam was the core aggressor of his third-wicket stand with Rizwan and also brought up his half-century in the process before falling to Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the 33rd over when Pakistan still needed 35 runs.

Imam-ul-Haq remained the top-scorer for Pakistan with an 84-ball 78, laced up with five boundaries and four sixes.

Rizwan then joined forces with Salman Ali Agha and made sure to steer Pakistan to a comfortable victory with an unbeaten 35-run partnership.

Rizwan smashed seven boundaries and a six on his way to an unbeaten 79-ball 63 while Agha scored 12 not out.

For Bangladesh, Shoriful, Taskin and Mehidy could pick up a wicket apiece.

Opting to bat first, Bangladesh could accumulate 193 runs before being bundled out in the 39th over despite anchoring half-centuries from skipper Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.

Bangladesh had a dismal start to their innings in their first Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s fixture as they were reduced to 47/4 inside the first powerplay as the Pakistan pace trio ran through their top order.

Following the slump, captain Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim launched an astonishing recovery as they put together a brilliant 100-run partnership with the former bringing up his half-century.

The pair appeared to have settled down and was looking to take the game away from Pakistan before Faheem Ashraf struck in the 30th over.

The lanky pacer outdid well-set Shakib with a short-pitched delivery, who holed it straight to Fakhar Zaman at the sweeper.

Shakib scored 53 off 57 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries.

Following Shakib’s dismissal, Mushfiqur Rahim was joined at the crease by Shamim Hossain and the pair could add 27 runs for the sixth wicket before Pakistan’s trump card Iftikhar Ahmed got rid of the latter.

Shamim scored a cautious 23-ball 16 which featured a six.

Pakistan’s in-form pacer Haris Rauf then further dented Bangladesh’s march with twin strikes in the 38th over which included the prized scalp of wicketkeeper batter Mushfiqur.

Mushfiqur Rahim top-scored for Bangladesh with 64 in 87 balls, laced up with five boundaries.

Haris’s twin strikes forced Bangladesh to slip to 190/8 before Naseem Shah emulated the feat in the next over by removing Afif Hossain and Shoriful Islam to wrap up the visitors’ innings.

Haris Rauf led the bowling attack for Pakistan with 4/19, followed by Naseem Shah’s 3/34 while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Faheem Ashraf and Iftikhar Ahmed made one scalp each.

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