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Pakistan in easy 109-run victory over Bangladesh
By Sa'adi Thawfeeq

Pakistan came up with a clinically efficient all-round performance after their defeat against world champions Sri Lanka on Monday, to beat Bangladesh comprehensively by 109 runs in a Pepsi Asia Cup match played at the R. Premadasa Stadium Wednesday.

Pakistan deciding to take first lease of the wicket which skipper Rameez Raja said was better than the one prepared on Monday, rattled up a match-winning 319 for 5 wickets off 50 overs - the highest total in the tournament, beating their own previous highest of 284 for 3 off 45 overs against Bangladesh at Chittagong in 1988.

Bangladesh were pushed back defensively by left-arm fast bowler Kabir Khan when he snapped up two wickets off successive deliveries to push them to 13 for 2 in the fourth over.

That Bangladesh eventually managed to top 200 for the first time in a one-day international was largely due to skipper Akram Khan and opening bat Athar Ali Khan. The pair added 110 for the fourth wicket off 144 balls (a Bangladesh record) each completing contrasting fifties and Bangladesh finished on 210 in the final over, with all-rounder Minhajul Abedin unable to bat, suffering from cramps in both legs.

The burly Akram hit four fours in his innings of 59 which came off 81 balls, while Athar Ali's knock of 82 which took him 125 balls included a six and eight fours. It was the highest individual score made by a Bangladeshi in one-day internationals.

Pakistan recovered from losing Amir Sohail for a 'duck' in the first over, through a record second wicket partnership of 123 off 121 balls between Saeed Anwar and Rameez. The left-handed Anwar who was picked the 'Man of the Match' went on to top score with an attractive 90 off 94 balls comprising 11 fours, despite being hit on the eye while sweeping.

Rameez scored 52 off 59 balls with six fours and they improved on the previous Asia Cup wicket record of 92 (unbroken) between Indian pair Manoj Prabhakar and Navjot Sidhu against Bangladesh at Sharjah in 1995.

Inzamam-ul-Haq and Salim Malik put the game beyond Bangladesh's reach with a further century stand of 109 off 95 balls for the fourth wicket. Inzamam, the attractive of the two, slammed two sixes and six fours in his 77 scored off 68 balls, Malik's 62 came off 60 balls with four fours.

Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushataq rounded off an excellent day for his country by taking his second five wicket haul in one-day cricket. Pakistan