PALLEKELE, Sept 25:
Opener Imran Nazir produced the tournament’s fastest half-century as Pakistan stormed into the Super Eights of the ICC World Twenty20 with a crushing eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh, here today.
Needing a win to advance to the next round, Pakistan rode on Nazir’s 36-ball 72-run blistering knock and his record 124-run opening stand with skipper Mohammad Hafeez to chase the challenging 176-run target with eight balls to spare, in their final group league encounter.
Nazir reached his fifty in just 25 deliveries, one quicker than Chris Gayle’s 26-ball effort against Australia.
In the crucial encounter, Bangladesh needed to win by a margin of at least 36 runs, but their bowlers came a cropper in the face of Nazir’s sustained onslaught.
During his belligerent knock, Nazir struck three sixes and nine fours that left the Bangladeshis shell-shocked, as they had given themselves a chance by posting a competitive total.
Nazir was ably supported by Hafeez (45 off 47 balls) as they produced the tournament’s highest partnership for any wicket.(PTI)
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