Pakistan back to winning ways at Cricket World Cup after beating Bangladesh at Eden Gardens

Pakistan kept alive their slim hopes of reaching the Cricket World Cup semi-finals with a resounding seven-wicket win which eliminated opponents Bangladesh.

Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman shared 128 for the opening wicket in Kolkata to help their country chase down 204 with 105 balls to spare and halt a run of four successive defeats in the tournament.

Zaman's fine knock of 81 off 74 balls comprised of seven sixes and three fours, while Shafique hit 11 boundaries, including two maximums, as part of his 68 from 69 deliveries.

Bangladesh opted to bat first at Eden Gardens, but were restricted to a modest total as Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Wasim took three wickets apiece.

All-rounder Mahmudullah offered some hope for his side by registering 56 before becoming the third victim of Afridi, while Litton Das and captain Shakib Al Hasan added 45 and 43 respectively.

After winning the toss, Bangladesh made a dismal start as Afridi trapped Tanzid Hasan lbw for a duck on only the fifth ball of the day to register his 100th ODI wicket and then had Najmul Shanto caught by the diving Usama Mir in the third over.

A fourth-wicket partnership of 79 between Das and the impressive Mahmudullah eventually steadied the ship after Mushfiqur Rahim was caught by Mohammad Rizwan off Haris Rauf to leave the Tigers reeling on 23 for three.

Yet Bangladesh were all out in the 46th over after Wasim removed Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman in quick succession.

Pakistan made extremely light work of the target, despite all-rounder Miraz removing standout pair Shafique and Zaman as part of his three-wicket haul.

Rizwan (26) and Iftikhar Ahmed (17) finished unbeaten at the crease to condemn their rivals to a sixth consecutive World Cup loss and an early exit.

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