COLOMBO, 18 July 2004 — Opener Yasir Hameed struck a fluent century as Pakistan scored a comfortable 76-run win over Bangladesh in a Group A match of the Asia Cup cricket tournament here yesterday.
The 26-year-old struck 102 off 123 deliveries with the help of 10 fours to help his team set a stiff target of 258 after they elected to bat at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground.
In reply, Bangladesh could manage only 181 in 45.2 overs despite a second successive half-century by opener Javed Omar.
Shoaib Akhtar bagged three wickets while other paceman Mohammad Sami and off-spinner Shoaib Malik picked two wickets each.
Hameed started positively and was not afraid to loft the ball over the infield while Inzamam ul-Haq (59) played some lusty shots during his 66-ball knock in which he hit four fours and two sixes, both off left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique.
Hameed, who was dropped by Mohammad Ashraful at long-off off Khaled Mahmud when on 61, was involved in useful partnerships with captain Inzamam and opener Imran Farhat (28).
“The pitch was good to bat on early in the day but it was hard work thereafter as the ball was not coming on to the bat later,” said Hameed after being named man of the match.
Pakistan toyed with the bowling during the 109-run stand for the third wicket between Hameed and Inzamam before both batsmen fell in quick succession.
Inzamam jumped out to left-arm spinner Abdur Razzaq and was stumped by wicketkeeper Khaled Mashud while Hameed holed out to Mushfiqur Rahman at deep mid wicket off seamer Mahmud.
Hameed earlier dominated the opening stand of 86 with Farhat, who fell leg-before in trying to sweep Razzaq.
Yousuf Youhana chipped in with an unbeaten 29 off 27 balls to push the team to 257-6.
Bangladesh’s reply started on a steady note with Omar putting on 48 runs in just over 10 overs with Ashraful (12) but the team was left looking for more useful partnerships after a twin-strike by Sami. The paceman had opener Ashraful caught behind with an out-swinger and in the next over trapped captain Habibul Bashar leg-before with one that came in.
Omar, who had scored 68 in his team’s facile 116-run win over minnows Hong Kong on Friday, followed it up with another gritty knock.
But he could not pull the team up with his 86-ball 62 during which he had to take the services of Ashraful as a runner after pulling a hamstring. Ashraful was found short of the crease in a mix-up with Alok Kapali that ended Omar’s knock. The other Bangladesh batsmen failed to come up with notable contributions.
Bashar though felt his team was getting better.
“We have not been batting well in the middle of the innings but have to learn to do that. We are getting closer and hope to start winning soon against good teams,” he said.
Pakistan play Hong Kong today in the final match of Group A.
