Summing up
So, another day, another one-sided game. After two cliff-hangers in two days over the weekend, we seem to have reverted to type in the past three days. Here, Pakistan suggested that their confidence has been boosted by their involvement in one of those cliff-hangers, against South Africa last Friday, as they romped to victory here. Shaheen Shah Afridi and then Mohammad Wasim in particular bowled brilliantly to shut down any hope given to Bangladesh by Litton Das and the ever-excellent Mahmudullah.
But 205 was no sort of target on this Eden Gardens pitch and Pakistan made mincemeat of it with a batting display of style and aggression, particularly from their openers. They face New Zealand on Saturday and England on Saturday week, and will need to beat both to have a chance of progressing. They have at least suggested they are capable of doing so in their past two games. Bangladesh’s desperately underwhelming World Cup continues though – and now they can only play for pride in their remaining two matches, against Sri Lanka and Australia.
And that’s us done for today. Stay on the site for a match report and return tomorrow for a significant and intriguing set-to between South Africa and New Zealand. Thanks for reading and reacting. Bye.
So Pakistan are up to fifth, two points off a coveted top-four spot albeit having played a game more than all the sides above them, while Bangladesh’s chances of progress are now mathematically over after a sixth straight defeat.
