Defending champions began the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean with a win over Bangladesh, but it did have its tentative moments.
A 142 run partnership between Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt appeared to have put the match out of reach. Their lusty hitting was not only a point that Pakistan were moving on from all the fiasco of the tour of Australia and the subsequent fines, bans and reprimands.
Akmal and Butt were virtually merciless on the Bangladesh bowlers and the only thing on show were plenty of fours and sixes. Both the openers ended up with the identical number of runs – seventy-three runs each as Pakistan galloped to a phenomenal 172 runs at the Beausejour Stadium in St. Lucia.
But if Bangladesh were expected to merely roll over, none of that was on the cards once Mohammad Ashraful joined forces with Shakib Al Hasan. The duo put up a fighting knock of ninety-one runs, a partnership that was not only imperative after two wickets for just thirty-one runs, but in order to show that Bangladesh were worthy of the competition.
If Ashraful was spectacular in his forty-nine ball sixty-five runs, Shakib did his bit, scoring forty-seven runs to set Bangladesh’s hopes soaring and Pakistan feeling more heat under the collar that they would have liked to.
Mohammad Aamer ended Ashraful’s campaign in the eighteenth over with his second wicket of the innings while Mohammad Sami helped seal Bangladesh’s hopes, the defending champions beating them by twenty-one runs.
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2010 ICC World Twenty20 Schedule
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Dark Horses New Zealand at the 2010 ICC World Twenty20
Pakistan Start at Defending Champions at the 2010 ICC World Twenty20
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For more on the 2010 ICC World Twenty20, simply follow the links:
Virender Sehwag Ruled out of 2010 ICC World Twenty20; Murali Vijay Wins Himself a Slot
Brett Lee says He’s Fit for 2010 ICC World Twenty20
Iceland’s Volcanic Ash Disrupts Air Travel to the 2010 ICC World Twenty20
Finger Fine Graeme Smith but Thumbs Down Brett Lee
2010 ICC World Twenty20 Team Squads for Men and Women Finalized
..Meanwhile the Women Grow in Strength
2010 ICC World Twenty20 Team Squads Confirmed
Parnell, Kemp Pay for IPL Injuries by Missing SA’s Team for the 2010 ICC World Twenty20
Lumb, Kieswetter Feature in England’s Team for ICC World Twenty20
Brett Lee Named in Australia’s Twenty20 Squad for 2010 ICC World Twenty20
Zimbabwe’s 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Squad Includes Andy Blignaut
India’s Twenty20 Squad Announced; Pandey, Kohli Miss Opportunity
Tanvir, Akhtar Missing in Pakistan’s Squad for 2010 ICC World Twenty20
Brett Lee, Brad Hodge, Nathan Bracken Find Themselves in Australia’s 30 Probables
Kemp Comes Back Into Reckoning, for IPL 3 & SA Team for 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Probables
