Pakistan wreck Bangladesh in their first World T20 match

KOLKATA: Pakistan began their World Twenty20 campaign defeating Bangladesh by 55 runs in Group Two Super 10 match here at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

Chasing a mammoth total of 202, Bangladesh could score 146 for six with the help of a brilliant half-century by Shakib Al Hasan, who remained not out on exact 50.

He also became the second Bangladeshi batsman after Tamim Iqbal to cross 1,000-run mark in T20 Internationals.  

Other scorers were Sabbir Rehman (25), Tamim Iqbal (24), Mushfiqur Rahim (18) while captain Mashrafe Mortaza was 18 not out.

Left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Amir and leg-spinner Shahid Afridi claimed two wickets for 27 runs each while left-arm spinner Imad Wasim and left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Irfan took one wicket each.

Earlier, Pakistan piled up a huge total of 201 runs for five as Mohammad Hafeez and Ahmed Shehzad struck half centuries and skipper Shahid Afridi came up with a breezy cameo to guide their team to set a difficult target for the Tigers.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan lost opener Sharjeel Khan (18) cheaply but Hafeez (64) and Shehzad (52) added 95 runs to lay the foundation for a 200-plus total.

Shahid Afridi promoted himself up the batting order to number four and smashed  four sixes and as many fours in his 19-ball 49 before falling in the final over.

Bangladesh´s left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny, who was reported for a suspect bowling action earlier in the tournament, claimed 2-34.

This was for the second time that Pakistan crossed 200-run mark in a T20 International. Earlier, they had scored 203 for five, also against Bangladesh at Karachi in 2008.

Pakistan will play their next match on March 19 against the arch rivals India at the same venue.