Shaheen Shah Afridi grabbed three wickets while openers Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique cracked half-centuries as Pakistan stormed to a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh on Tuesday to stay afloat in the race for a World Cup semi-final place.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shaheen's 3-23 helped Pakistan dismiss Bangladesh for just 204 in 45.1 overs before Zaman's 74-ball 81 and Shafique's 69-ball 68 guided Pakistan over the line for the loss of three wickets with 105 balls to spare.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The victory revived Pakistan's outside hopes of reaching the semi-finals with six points from seven matches. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
They still need to win against New Zealand (November 4 in Bengaluru) and England (Kolkata on November 11) and also hope other results go their way if they are to stay in the tournament.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In contrast, Bangladesh became the first side to crash out of the ten-team event with just one win from seven games.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Needing to improve their net run-rate, Zaman and Shafique cruised to 128 by the 22nd over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shafique hit nine boundaries and two sixes as he made his third half century in addition to a hundred in the tournament.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He fell leg-before to spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz while skipper Babar Azam holed out to the same bowler for nine.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Zaman, who recovered from a knee injury to replace Imam-ul-Haq in one of three changes for Pakistan, smashed seven sixes and three boundaries, his 16th ODI fifty, but first after 11 innings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He holed out to Miraz in the 28th over but Mohammad Rizwan (26) and Iftikhar Ahmed (17) remained undefeated to complete the modest chase.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Miraz finished with 3-60, the only bright spot in Bangladesh's bowling.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier, Shaheen and fellow fast bowlers Mohammad Wasim (3-31) and Haris Rauf (2-36) ripped through Bangladesh.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The pace trio were too hot to handle as Bangladesh struggled on a dry and slow Eden Gardens pitch. <\/p>\r\n\r\n
Bangladesh, who won the toss and batted, only passed the 200-mark thanks to a solid 70-ball 56 from Mahmudullah, 45 by Liton Das and skipper Shakib Al Hasan's 64-ball 43.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shaheen struck with the fifth ball of his first over, trapping opener Tanzid Hasan right in front of the stumps and then saw Usama Mir clutch on to a flick off Najmul Hossain Shanto (four) in his next.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The first dismissal gave Shaheen his 100th wicket in his 51st one-day international, making him the 21st Pakistani bowler with a century of wickets.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pace partner Haris made it 23-3 with the wicket of veteran Mushfiqur Rahim, caught behind for five in the sixth over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It took a 79-run stand between Mahmudullah and Liton to carry Bangladesh to 102 when Iftikhar broke the stand with a soft dismissal of Liton, caught off a loose shot. Liton hit six boundaries in his 64-ball knock.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shaheen came back for his second spell to finish off Mahmudullah, bowling him with a superb outswinger that hit the top of the off stump. Mahmudullah's knock had a six and six boundaries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shaheen joined Australian spinner Adam Zampa as the top wicket-taker at this World Cup with 16.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shakib, who had a poor tournament with just 61 runs in five innings ahead of Tuesday's game, mistimed a hook off Rauf and was caught by Agha Salman after hitting four boundaries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n