Pakistan cruise easily over Bangladesh in series opener

In the triangular series which started on 8th June 2008, Sunday, taking place in Dhaka, Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 70 runs on Sunday in the rain-delayed opening match. The match was reduced to 40 overs because of rain. Salman Butt and Mohammad Yousuf hit half-centuries.

Butt and Yousuf’s fifties helped their side to 233 all out from 39.3 overs before pace bowler Wahab Riaz and spinner Shahid Afridi took three wickets each to restrict Bangladesh to 163 for eight.

The captain of Bangladesh Mohammad Ashraful gave the team a promising start by scoring 56 runs not out, his 14th one-day half century for Bangladesh. Despite a convincing start Bangladesh started losing wickets at regular intervals after opener Shahriar Nafees was caught behind by Kamran Akmal off a delivery from Riaz just scoring 9 runs. Except for Ashraful only opener Tamim Iqbal (29), Abdur Razzak (26 not out) and Mushfiqur Rahim (15) reached double figures.

Spinner Alok Kapali, back on international duty after an 18- month absence, removed Butt at 70, Shahid Afridi at 20 and Yousuf at 59, all caught, to end with three for 49 off eight overs.

Salman Butt was given the Man of the Match Award. Pakistan will face India in the second match of the series in Mirpur on Tuesday 10th June 2008. . The finals of the triangular series will be held on 14th June 2008.