Dhaka – Opener Ahmed Shehzad smashed an unbeaten 111 off 62 balls to lift Pakistan to a commanding 190-5 against Bangladesh in the Super-10 match of the World Twenty20 in Dhaka on Sunday.
The 22-year-old from Lahore hit 10 boundaries and five sixes in his first T20 international century, sharing a fourth-wicket stand of 83 with Shoaib Malik (26) in the group two match.
Shehzad, who reached his century off 58 balls in the 18th over, was caught off a Mashrafe Mortaza no-ball in the 19th after hitting the previous ball for a six.
The let-off proved expensive as Pakistan scored 44 runs in the last two overs, with Mortaza conceding 24 in the penultimate over.
Pakistan, who have two points from as many matches, must beat both Bangladesh and the West Indies on Tuesday to join India in the semi-finals from the group.
Bangladesh have lost both their matches so far and will depend on other results to qualify if they defeat Pakistan.
Shehzad hammered 31 in an opening stand of 43 with Kamran Akmal (nine) that came off just 27 deliveries.
Bangladesh fought back by taking three quick wickets, two of them by left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak, as Pakistan slipped to 71-3
by the 10th over.
Umar Akmal, Pakistan's hero against Australia when he made 94
off 54 balls, was dismissed by Mohammad Mahmudullah for no score.
Shehzad gave the innings a lift by smashing two sixes and as many boundaries in the 13th over bowled by seamer Ziaur Rahman, which cost 22 runs. – Sapa-AFP