Pakistan, Bangladesh big guns fire ahead of T20 World Cup

 

Pakistan, Bangladesh big guns fire ahead of T20 World Cup

PAKISTAN V BANGLADESH, TALKING POINTS THURSDAY 13 OCTOBER

Four of the best batters in the world look to be in fine form ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup after they hit half centuries during Pakistan's narrow victory over Bangladesh in Christchurch on Thursday.

While Pakistan had already booked their spot in the final of the tri-series against New Zealand and Bangladesh had little to play for, both sides were keen to show their wares just days out from the start of the T20 World Cup in Australia.

Pakistan stars fire in run chase

It was no surprise to see experienced openers Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam on song in the victory, with the pair putting on their eighth partnership of 100 or more in T20I cricket to expertly lay the platform for the successful run chase.

Babar (55 off 40 balls) was the aggressor early on, while Rizwan (69 off 56) kept his composure throughout and only fell to Soumya Sarkar in the penultimate over after putting his team in a controlling position.

It was then left to Mohammad Nawaz (45 off 20) to finish the job for Pakistan, with the all-rounder hitting Mohammad Saifuddin to the boundary on the second last ball of the match to seal the seven-wicket triumph.