In a thrilling encounter at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, Pakistan secured a crucial seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh, breathing new life into their ICC World Cup 2023 campaign. This win not only improved Pakistan’s net run rate but also propelled them to the fifth position in the points table, significantly enhancing their chances of reaching the semi-finals.
Pakistan’s semi-final aspirations now hinge on New Zealand’s performance in their upcoming matches. As of now, New Zealand has accumulated eight points from six games. To secure a semi-final spot, Pakistan needs the Black Caps to lose their remaining three matches. If New Zealand does face defeat in these matches, they would finish the group stage with eight points. In this scenario, Pakistan could advance to the knockout stage with ten points if they win their next three fixtures.
ICC World Cup 2023 points table after Pakistan beat Bangladesh
The next crucial match in this context will be Pakistan facing New Zealand on November 4, which could potentially determine their World Cup fate.
Fakhar Zaman made a stunning comeback after missing five matches, proving his mettle with a remarkable performance. The left-handed batter amassed 81 runs off 74 deliveries, including three fours and seven towering sixes, one of which soared an impressive 99 meters. Abdullah Shafique also made a substantial contribution, scoring 68 runs, forming a formidable 128-run opening partnership alongside Zaman.
In the opening innings, Bangladesh faced an early setback with Shaheen Afridi’s outstanding first-over magic, dismissing Tanzid Hasan for a duck. Further troubles ensued for the Tigers as Najmul Hossain Shanto (4) and the experienced Mushfiqur Rahim (5) fell to Afridi and Haris Rauf, respectively, leaving Bangladesh struggling at 23-3 within six overs.
However, Littos Das and Mahmudullah initiated a resilient 79-run partnership, helping Bangladesh post a competitive total against Pakistan’s formidable pace attack. Das’s promising innings was cut short by Iftikhar Ahmed, and Mahmudullah followed suit, being bowled out by Afridi after scoring 56 runs. Despite skipper Shakib Al Hasan’s contribution of 43 runs and Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 25, the lower-order efforts were insufficient to lift Bangladesh to a more competitive total, resulting in their entire team being dismissed for just 204 runs.
With this remarkable victory, Pakistan has kept its dreams of reaching the ICC World Cup 2023 semi-finals alive, and cricket fans worldwide eagerly anticipate the upcoming clashes that will determine the fate of these talented teams in the tournament.
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