|| CF Correspondent ||

Fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman yet again sparkled in the death overs as he claimed his back-to-back five-for to hold Pakistan back to 315-9 at Lord’s on Friday.

Bangladesh who eyed to end the tournament with winning note, would fancy their chance, considering the fact that they have twice gunned down 322-run target in World Cup history with the latest came against West Indies a couple of weeks ago.

Mustafizur’s 5-75, following his 5-59 against India, was complemented by Mohammad Saifuddin’s 3-77.

Pakistan need to bowl Bangladesh out for just 7, to give any kind of shot to reach the semifinal, eliminating New Zealand by net-run-rate, which is an improbable task.

Opener Imam-ul-Haque was instrumental in Pakistan’s respectable total, hitting a run-a-balll-100, which is his first World Cup century.

Babar Azam, looked well set for his second World Cup century but eventually got dismissed for 96.

Mohammad Hafeez chipped-in-with 27 while Imad Wasim made a whirlwind 26 ball-43 to help the side propel past 300.

Despite winning the toss and batting first, Pakistan’s intention looked not to give any shot to the semifinal even though they knew that they need to win the game by 300 plus margin at least.

Rather they made a slow start with opener Fakhar Zaman being out of 13 after playing 31 balls.

Imam and Babar steadied the innings but never looked in urgency to bat with higher gear.

They added 157 off 148 balls to lay a platform for the side to take the score past 300.

Saifuddin broke the partnership, having deprived Babar Azam century for four runs. Azam smashed 11 delightful boundaries in his 96 balls knock.

Imam however raced to his century off 99 balls, hitting seven boundaries but was out to next delivery of Mustafizur, who then took out Haris Sohail for his 100th wicket in just 54 matches.