ICC World T20: Afridi leads from front as Pakistan hammer Bangladesh

Stung by unwarranted criticism, Shahid Afridi, nicknamed Boom Boom for his aggressive approach, gave a fitting reply with a brilliant all-round performance guiding his team to a comprehensive 55-run win over Bangladesh in a group league encounter of the ICC World T20, here.

The Pakistan skipper led by example blasting 49 off only 19 balls with winners scoring a massive 201/5 after opting to bat.

Afridi then bowled his superfast leg-breaks to grab 2/27 in four overs to restrict Bangladesh to 146/6 in their stipulated 20 overs on a batting friendly Eden Gardens track. He deservingly got the man of the match award and also the victory was a sweet revenge for Pakistan, who were ousted from Asia Cup by Mashrafe Mortaza's men only a couple of weeks back.

Afridi very rarely plays rampaging innnings these days but on Wednesday, he did show why he is known as ‘Boom Boom’ as balls disappeared thick and fast into stands. He hit four sixes apart from equal number of boundaries and his innings was the difference between 150 and 200. Before Afridi’s carnage, Ahmed Shehzad (52 from 39 balls; 8x4) and Mohammad Hafeez (64 from 42b; 7x4, 2x6) had laid the foundation with a 95-run partnership from 68 balls.

Afridi was exquisite with his shot selection and had all the time to improvise as he raced to 25 from nine balls toying Bangladesh bowlers with ease on a fast outfield.

Pakistan: Sharjeel Khan b Arafat Sunny 18, Ahmed Shehzad c Mahmudullah b Sabbir Rahman 52, Mohammad Hafeez c Soumya Sarkar b Arafat Sunny 64, Shahid Afridi c Mahmudullah b Taskin Ahmed 49, Umar Akmal c Shakib Al Hasan b Taskin Ahmed 0, Shoaib Malik (not out) 15, Imad Wasim (not out) 0. Extras: (lb 1, w 1, nb 1) 3. Total: (for 5 wkts, in 20 overs) 201 FoW: 1-26, 2-121, 3-163, 4-175, 5-198. Bowling: Taskin 4-0-32-2, Al-Amin 3-0-43-0, Arafat 4-0-34-2, Shakib 4-0-39-0 (1w), Mashrafe 3-0-41-0 (1nb), Sabbir 2-0-11-1.

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal c Imad Wasim b Shahid Afridi 24, Soumya Sarkar b Mohammad Amir 0, Sabbir Rahman b Shahid Afridi 25, Shakib Al Hasan (not out) 50, Mahmudullah c Sharjeel Khan b Imad Wasim 4, Mushfiqur Rahim c Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Amir 18, Mohammad Mithun c Mohammad Amir b Mohammad Irfan 2, Mashrafe Mortaza (not out) 15. Extras: (lb 4, w 4) 8. Total: (for 6 wkts, in 20 overs) 146. FoW: 1-1, 2-44, 3-58, 4-71, 5-110, 6-117. Bowling: Amir 4-0-27-2 (2w), Irfan 4-0-30-1 (1w), Wahab Riaz 4-0-31-0, Afridi 4-0-27-2, Malik 2-0-14-0 (1w), Wasim 2-0-13-1