Shoaib sends Bangladesh crashing

Shoaib Akhtar produced a hostile spell of pace bowling to send Bangladesh crashing to a 49-run defeat in the first one-day international against Pakistan on Tuesday.

Shoaib, struggling with a suspect action and fitness problems over the past few seasons, removed both openers in quick succession as he finished with two for nine off eight overs. Four of those runs came from wides and no-balls.

He had Javed Omar caught for six and bowled Mehrab Hossain for a duck to send the hosts, who had earlier dismissed the touring side for 202, slumping to 68 for six in the first game of the three-match series.

Bangladesh finished their 50 overs on 153 for seven, with the only real resistance coming from skipper Khaled Mashud, who scored an unbeaten 54. He and Enamul Haque added 85 for the seventh wicket in a lost cause.

By then Pakistan were so comfortable that batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq was given an over, the big man responding with a wicket maiden.

Pakistan had started miserably, losing five for 88 before wicketkeeper Rashid Latif steadied the innings with 79.

Latif, who needed a runner after suffering a hamstring strain, was named man of the match.

Dropped on 47 by Javed Omar at back-ward point off Khaled Mahmud, he hit nine fours off 85 balls. He failed to finish the game, though, walking off after seven overs of Bangladesh's reply as he struggled behind the stumps.

Earlier home medium-pacer Tareq Aziz Khan claimed three wickets for 19 off 10 overs on his debut.

He broke through with only his fourth delivery and 12 runs on the board by bowling opener Naveed Latif with a full length in-swinger, prompting a huge cheer from the home crowd.

Khan also dismissed Inzamam, who lifted a catch to Sanwar Hossain at mid-wicket after making 20, and completed his tally by removing Pakistan captain Waqar Younis.

Bangladesh, beaten 2-0 in the recently-concluded Test series, have now lost 13 one-dayers in a row since beating Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup.

The next match will be held on Thursday in Dhaka.

Mail Cricket Editor