Pakistan bulldozed Bangladesh by 70 runs in the rain-curtailed tri-series opener to extend their unbeaten run in one-day internationals to 12 at Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka. Riding on sparkling half-centuries by Salman Butt (70) and Mohammad Yousuf (59) Pakistan scored a challenging 233 before being folded in 39.3 overs, after sent in to bat in a match reduced to a 40-40 affair.
They then restricted their rivals to 163 for eight in their quota of 40 overs to register their 12th consecutive win. Flamboyant all rounder Shahid Afridi (3/19) and left-arm paceman Wahab Riaz (3/22) swung their arm to good effects sharing six wickets between them, breaking the spine of Bangaldesh batting.
Hosts' skipper Mohammad Ashraful was the only batsman who put up some resistance though he was not his usual attacking self and adopted a defensive approach. He remained unbeaten on 56 and strangely played last over of the match as a maiden, bowled by Younis Khan.
Shahriar Nafees (9) and Tamim Iqbal provided a steady if not flamboyant start to Bangladesh against a good Pakistan attack, led by Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir. The opening pair put up 35 runs before Riaz, who was playing only his second one-day match, had Nafees caught behind the wickets.
Iqbal joined his partner in the dressing room soon when Afridi beat him in the air and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal did not waste anytime to dislodge his stumps. Ashraful stood at one end watching his teammates coming and going as Raqibul Hasan (8) too started his walk back to the pavilion becoming second victim of Riaz.
The first three batsmen succumb to casual shots not helping the hosts in any way to build partnerships, needed to get close to the big target set by their rivals.
Soon the Bangaladeshis were tottering at 77 for four with Afridi dismissing Alok Kapali for a nought as the batsman failed to negotiate a faster delivery and drew the ball on to his leg stump. Bangladesh were heading for a defeat only from here as their batsmen lacked passion and fire in their belly needed to overhaul the big target.
Umar Gul then dealt a twin-blow to the hosts removing Mamudulla and Mashrafe Mortaza in the 30th over of the innings, ending all hopes of getting close to the target. Earlier, Pakistan got off to a solid start with Butt and Kamran Akmal (25) adding 75 runs in 12 overs.
Though Akmal and Younis Khan (0) returned off successive balls, Yousuf chipped in with a 56-ball 59 and Misbah looked still in the Twenty20 mode as he creamed 39 runs off 22 balls to help Pakistan cruise past the 200-mark in the 35th over.
They then restricted their rivals to 163 for eight in their quota of 40 overs to register their 12th consecutive win. Flamboyant all rounder Shahid Afridi (3/19) and left-arm paceman Wahab Riaz (3/22) swung their arm to good effects sharing six wickets between them, breaking the spine of Bangaldesh batting.
Hosts' skipper Mohammad Ashraful was the only batsman who put up some resistance though he was not his usual attacking self and adopted a defensive approach. He remained unbeaten on 56 and strangely played last over of the match as a maiden, bowled by Younis Khan.
Shahriar Nafees (9) and Tamim Iqbal provided a steady if not flamboyant start to Bangladesh against a good Pakistan attack, led by Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir. The opening pair put up 35 runs before Riaz, who was playing only his second one-day match, had Nafees caught behind the wickets.
Iqbal joined his partner in the dressing room soon when Afridi beat him in the air and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal did not waste anytime to dislodge his stumps. Ashraful stood at one end watching his teammates coming and going as Raqibul Hasan (8) too started his walk back to the pavilion becoming second victim of Riaz.
The first three batsmen succumb to casual shots not helping the hosts in any way to build partnerships, needed to get close to the big target set by their rivals.
Soon the Bangaladeshis were tottering at 77 for four with Afridi dismissing Alok Kapali for a nought as the batsman failed to negotiate a faster delivery and drew the ball on to his leg stump. Bangladesh were heading for a defeat only from here as their batsmen lacked passion and fire in their belly needed to overhaul the big target.
Umar Gul then dealt a twin-blow to the hosts removing Mamudulla and Mashrafe Mortaza in the 30th over of the innings, ending all hopes of getting close to the target. Earlier, Pakistan got off to a solid start with Butt and Kamran Akmal (25) adding 75 runs in 12 overs.
Though Akmal and Younis Khan (0) returned off successive balls, Yousuf chipped in with a 56-ball 59 and Misbah looked still in the Twenty20 mode as he creamed 39 runs off 22 balls to help Pakistan cruise past the 200-mark in the 35th over.
