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The players are on their way out at this storied and atmospheric stadium, Bangladesh’s huddling on the edge of the outfield first.
Some reading – Jonathan Liew on an English disease:
For any seasoned watcher of English sport, this is a familiar pattern: the cathartic triumph, the parade and associated tie-in merchandise, the inevitable decline. The men’s Ashes winners of 2005 became the whitewashed carcasses of 2006-07. England’s rugby union World Cup winners of 2003 disintegrated pretty much overnight, leaving a swathe of after-dinner bookings in their wake
Cheers Daniel. Afternoon/evening everyone, for Pakistan’s chase. Bangladesh have been a big disappointment in this tournament – sure, you might not have them pegged as semi-final candidates, but they brought plenty to the 2019 tournament and were excellent eight years ago, and their form this calendar year hasn’t been too shabby. But with Shakib out of sorts – though he showed some old glimmers earlier with the bat – and the batting over-reliant on Mahmudullah rescuing the top order, they’ve fallen horribly short. They’ve not been much cop at defending targets either and have only Shoriful Islam, in 20th, in the top 20 wicket-takers of this World Cup.
But it’s been a seamer’s game so far, this, so let’s see. In the meantime, we can kick back and watch this Wasim Akram homage on Sky or continue the crisps chat, whatever. (Coming from a family of ready-salted puritans, I need to take my exotic crisp pleasures elsewhere, when I’m in the office canteen or wherever, when it’s go big[gleswade sweet chilli] or go home – what is it about Biggleswade’s micro-climate?). Anyway, on my telly, Wasim has just ripped through England at the MCG in 92, scaling heights that this current Pakistan side have fallen a fair way short of.
And with that, my watch is over. Tom Davies will be here shortly to coax you through what, if Pakistan pakistan, could still be a tense chase. But from me, it’s peace out.
This isn’t over – batting won’t, I don’t think, get easier, nor are Pakistan that good at it. But they should have enough to get home, the bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Wasim with the old ball, too good for Bangladesh, the batters who got in unable to make something definitive. Litton Das gifting his wicket was a turning point – he’s only just finished walking back from the middle – and Shakib also got himself out. He now needs a monumental effort in the field
Bangladesh set Pakistan 205 to win!WICKET! Mustafizur b Wasim 3 (Pakistan 204 all out) He’s done it again! This is great stuff, the tail in at pace far too good for Mustafizur; a yorker bounces from boot onto stumps, and Babar will be delighted with how this has gone.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Wasim celebrates the wicket of Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Photograph: Bikas Das/AP45th over: Bangladesh 204-9 (Mustafizur 3, Shoriful 1) In comms, Waqar reckons Wasim’s ball is swinging more than Afridi’s – but of course you’ve still got to control it and get the ball in the right place. He’s got a tilted seam-position, good pace and a slingy action, the expert tells us, so his deliveries swing late; meantime, this latest over cedes just three singles. But back to more general chat, Waqar suggests moving to one ball after, say, 30 overs, so it gets older and we reintroduce to the game a skill that’s been far less influential in recent times.
44th over: Bangladesh 201-9 (Mustafizur 1, Shoriful 0) A tremendous over from Wasim, two wickets and two clean-bowleds which might just’ve broken the back of this match,
WICKET! Taskin b Wasim 6 (Bangladesh 201-9)He’s done it again! Again, Wasim finds reverse, this time relying on movement away to defeat the batter, who tries to shove it down the ground only to be defeated by the movement through the air, missing as his stumps are splayed behind him. Big trouble for Bangladesh.
44th over: Bangladesh 201-8 (Taskin 6, Mustafizur 1) Mustafizur goes to pull then flicks to square leg for one.
WICKET! Miraz b Wasim 25 (Bangladesh 200-8)Waqar, it turns out, knows a thing or two about cricket and Pakistani bowlers. He said Wasim was better with an old, reversing ball, and shonuff he gets one to tail in, whizzing past Miraz’s mow across the line and slamming the top of off, knocking it out of the ground.
43rd over: Bangladesh 200-7 (Miraz 25, Taskin 6) Yup, Afridi returns and immediately Taskin flicks one slanted down leg. Rizwan takes the catch but when the appeal is rejected, says it was pad so there’s no review. A leg bye follows, then Afridi, coming around to Miraz, narrowly defeats the outside edge; a further single follows.
42nd over: Bangladesh 198-7 (Miraz 24, Taskin 6) I wonder if Babar will bring Afridi back soon, trying to finish this innings as soon as possible rather than keep his main man for the final push. Either way, though, this match has already shown us one reason Pakistan are struggling: they’re under-powered in the bowling department, a situation emphasises as I type; after the first two balls of Usama’s final over go for three, then Miraz goes inside-out over cover for four, and Babar can’t let these last eight overs be milked like that.
41st over: Bangladesh 191-6 (Miraz 17, Taskin 3) Iftikhar returns for his final over and cedes three singles to finish with figures of 1-44 off his 10.
“Crisps for cricket picnics,” begins Alison Griffiths, reading me like she wrote me. “I love your OBO coverage but can’t understand how you have overlooked the umami perfection of Walkers Marmite crisps. What genius invented those?”
I’ve not tried these. A few overs ago, John Starbuck mentioned the ultra-processed nature of crisps, and Walkers have made their regular stuff healthier and therefore less tasty. I’m sure this is nothing to do with Sensations, left to their own devices, being dearer. Anway, I’m not a Marmite fan and wonder if these have enough bite for me, but also, I’ll be off the newsagent soon as I’m done here.
4oth over: Bangladesh 188-7 (Miraz 17, Taskin 3) Taskin gets away with two to fine leg, Wasim doing well to prevent the boundary, then a single to point means he retains strike. With so many overs still remaining Bangladesh, and Miraz in particular, have a lot of work to do.
WICKET! Shakib Al Hasan c Agha Slaman b Rauf 43 (Bangladesh 185-7)He did his best, but when you’re not there you’re not there, and Shaklib’s struggles against the short stuff continues – which probably makes this delivery sound better than it is. It gets a little big on the batter but not with any menace, he just gets under it but with his feet in the wrong position, he can’t impart the necessary power, instead offering midwicket a dolly– that’s almost, but not quite dropped.
40th over: Bangladesh 185-6 (Shakib 43, Miraz 17) Nas trails an interval feature with actual Wasim, one of my all-tie favourite bowlers – not many have had the magic ball, the stock ball, the variety, the leftiness, the temperament and the dirty action in their armoury. Anyway, Rauf returns and his first two balls yield two singles…
39th over: Bangladesh 183-6 (Shakib 42, Miraz 16) Mohammad Wasim returns and Babar will hope he can exercise a little control; Afridi has just three overs left and, if we’re honest, he’s the only bowler who’s really threatened. Shakib takes one to third then Miraz tries a tickle to fine leg; Rizwan does really well to stop on the dive.
38th over: Bangladesh 182-6 (Shakib 41, Miraz 16) Suddenly, Shakib looks confident at the crease, his movements more positive and definitive. And after four singles, Miraz wants some of the action, takeing a step – it’s more of a stomp actually – down the track, slamming a slog-sweep over cow for six! Terrific shot making it 24 off the last two overs, the partnership is 42 off 39.
37th over: Bangladesh 172-6 (Shakib 39, Miraz 8) Iftikhar returns and Shakib is in now! He deposits the loosener over cover for four, follows it with a thundserous sweep for four more, then have a look! A glorious dvie over the top makes it three fours in three balls, and has the Bangladesh skipper played his way into form in front of our eyes? Fourteen off the over, and this is a really good contest.
Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh plays a shot. Photograph: Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC/Getty Images36th over: Bangladesh 158-6 (Shakib 26, Miraz 7) Pakistan need to take care, because if these two are still at the crease with, say, 10 to go, Bangladesh still have scope to set something challenging. So for now they’re just building, a two and two singles keeping things moving.
“I rarely indulge in crisps because they’re junk food (or UPFs as we have to say these days),” says John Starbuck. “But when I do, it’s always McCoys Flame-grilled Steak but only when paired with a Melton Mowbray pork pie. All the other exotic flavours leave me indifferent.”
My wife really enjoyed Chris van Tulleken’s book on the UPF topic and I try and stay away from such things to stat alive, but meaty crisps tend not to do it for me. I want sharpness of flavour.
35th over: Bangladesh 153-6 (Shakib 23, Miraz 5) Rauf returns but Miraz looks in decent touch and he eases a single to cover, then Shakib takes two to the same region. A further single follows, and both sides are allowing this to drift now. Bangladesh can’t afford to take risks, while Afridi looks Pakistan’s only reliable strike bowler.
34th over: Bangladesh 149-6 (Shakib 20, Miraz 4) I wonder if Babar is regretting his omission of Nawaz, who’d be very useful right about now. Instead, though, Usama rattles through another over, ceding four singles, and Bangladesh will be lowering what they deem an acceptable total to around 230, I reckon. Good luck (with that plan i just imagined) lads.
33rd over: Bangladesh 145-6 (Shakib 18, Miraz 2) Afridi has a full over at Miraz, who quickly gets down the other end via single. Shakib then forces to cover and they run two, before doing well to jam out a nasty yorker.A single follows, and Pakistan are in total control of this now.
“The absolute God-King of all crisps, reckons Ed Clarke, “were Tesco’s Sea Salt and Cracked Pink Peppercorn, discontinued years past. I still yearn for them, preferably with an insanely strong gin-based cocktail.”
They sound a bit bland for my taste, I’m afraid. Just the other day, I was advising my niece – my wife’s family are Ghanaian, so grew up eating food that tastes, while I was raised on bland Ashkenazi fare – that I first got into hot food, through chilli McCoy’s and spicy Transform-a-Snacks and still want a crisp that, ideally, makes my tongue sore and mouth hurt.
32nd over: Bangladesh 141-6 (Shakib 15, Miraz 1) Bangladesh are in all sorts now, Shakib’s mind most likely made up. He can’t throw hands with so many overs in danger of going unbowled so will, I expect, look to occupy the crease and be grateful for whatever’s on offer – for another 10 overs at least, if the innings lasts that long.
WICKET! Hridoy c Iftikhar b Usama Mir 7 (Bangladesh 140-6)This could get very messy very quickly. Next ball, Hridoy feels for it outside off but doesn’t move feet in that direction, edging high to slip.
32nd over: Bangladesh 140-5 (Shakib 15, Hridoy 7) Shakib’s under pressure here: does he stick about, or does he commandeer the innings? He begins this latest Usama over with a single, then Hridoy steps down and mows a sweep that almost spins him around over midwicket for six!
31st over: Bangladesh 133-5 (Shakib 14, Hridoy 1) That’s the thing, isn’t it? When you’ve got a bowler like Afridi, you want him running in pretty much all the time because you know he can make stuff happen at any point. He’s not even bowled that well here, but he’s now joint-leading wicker-taker in the tournament, level with Zampa on 16; imagine what’ll happen if his needle hits the groove. And Hridoy, new to the team today, won’t be relishing the two balls he now has to see off, but Afridi obliges him with a wide, he then bunts one to mid-on to get away, and when Shakib drives, a direct hit allows a snaffled single.
WICKET! Mahmudullah b Afridi 56 (Bangladesh 130-5)AND THERE IT IS! Afridi comes at Mahmudullah from around, slants in and, off a length, finds a little bit of movement and bounce – enough to beat a set batter in nick, which tells you this is a beauty – before rattling the top of middle. Bangladesh are in a situation; Afridi is a superstar.
Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi celebrates the wicket of Bangladesh’s Mohammad Mahmudullah. Photograph: Bikas Das/AP31st over: Bangladesh 130-4 (Mahmudullah 56, Shakib 13) Not before time – in my oh so expert opinion – Babar restores Afridi to his attack. I’m not sure why now, rather than a few overs ago when Shakib was fresh at the crease, but here we are, and he begins with a wide then a single.
30th over: Bangladesh 128-4 (Mahmudullah 56, Shakib 12) Shakib’s working so hard not to get out here, deliberate in his movements and considered in his shots. He’s desperate not to give it away, which is affecting his ability to play naturally so, though it sounds counter-intuitive, its heartening to see him miss a pull because at least he’s trying to attack. They run a leg bye and the over cedes four.
29th over: Bangladesh 124-4 (Mahmudullah 54, Shakib 10) Another quick over from Iftikhar, three singles from it. He quite fancies an lb off its final delivery, but only because ball hit pad; it wasn’t hitting, not a chance.
“Yes!” begins John Foster. “What a treat to find a fellow aficionado of the Co-op Irresistible Hand Cooked Sea Salt & Chardonnay Crisp. Truly eye-watering and bum puckering – proper old school ‘smoker’s crisps’ as my sainted grandmother would say. Paired with a pot of aioli or taramasalata for dipping, you’ve got a snack so indulgent it should only be consumed with a black shroud over your head in order to hide the sin from the eyes of God. Similarly in the Co-op cricket food line, they used to do the very best – mini chicken kiev bites. Like scotch eggs but with garlic butter inside instead of egg and chicken ‘stuff’ instead of sausage meat. Off the shelf, they were innocuous, typical beige buffet fodder, but – and this is the key – left in the packet, in the sun for a few hours, slightly warm and melty inside … they became something else altogether. Tragically they were discontinued a couple of years ago (I know this because I emailed customer services). Keep up the good work, brother in crisp!”
I love crisps so much, I don’t know what to tell you, and “smoker’s crisp” is a lovely phrase. However, I’d be dipping in hummus – the smooth, Kosher kind, not the grainy supermarket sort – though am intrigued that your kiev approach matches mine for Fruit Pastille ice lollies.
28th over: Bangladesh 121-4 (Mahmudullah 52, Shakib 10) Wasim returns and that’s more like it! His loosener is short and wide so Shakib steps forward and slaps to cover, where the fielder should intervene but doesn’t; four. These are the only runs from the over, but the partnership, 19 off 43, is slowly building Maureen Mentum.
27th over: Bangladesh 117-4 (Mahmudullah 52, Shakib 6) It feels like both sides are prepared to let this phase of the game drift: Bangladesh need these two at the crease for as long as possible – ideally they’ll still be there for the last 10 overs – while Pakistan can allow that if the score increases as slowly as currently. This latest go-around from Iftikhar yields four singles, a perfect example of what we just said: the status quo is tolerable to both parties.
26th over: Bangladesh 113-4 (Mahmudullah 50, Shakib 4) Shakib gets down the other end immediately, nurdling to backward square for a single; Mahmudullah responds with a cut to point for another. A further two ones make it four from the over, the second raising Rock me Mahmudullah’s fifty – off 58 deliveries – and what a fine knock it’s been. Coming in under pressure, I can’t recall a false shot, and for as long as he’s at the crease, his team are bang in this.
Bangladesh’s Mohammad Mahmudullah celebrates his fifty. Photograph: Bikas Das/AP25th over: Bangladesh 109-4 (Mahmudullah 48, Shakib 2) “Thirteen deliveries, one single,” announces Nasser of Shakib. “Keep him down.” And Pakistan try to, Iftikhar coming around with the field in tight; he manages five dots, before a single to midwicket means the Bangladesh captain retains strike. I’d be very tempted to, were I Babar, to toss Afridi the globule at this point.
24th over: Bangladesh 108-4 (Mahmudullah 48, Shakib 1) Rauf continues and sends down consecutive leg-side wides, then hits the pad; he appeals, the batters steal a leg bye. Mahmudullah has a problem now: does he keep playing as he has been, attacking whenever possible, or does he try and stay at the crease in the knowledge that if he departs, things could get very grim very quickly. My guess is he lets Shakib settle before doing anything risky, and the skipper gets off the mark with a cut to third man.
23rd over: Bangladesh 104-4 (Mahmudullah 48, Shakib 0) With the new man in, Babar will hope his spinners can rush through a few overs while he settles – Shakib is out of form – and his team rebuild. Another cheap over, one off it, and a run a ball from here will take Bangladesh to 266. I’m sure they’d take that.
22nd over: Bangladesh 103-4 (Mahmudullah 47, Shakib 0) Babar brings Rauf back, which makes some sense; his spinners haven’t given him the control he needs, so he might as well try and purchase another wicket by reverting to pace. One off the over.
“You can get rid of an ear worm by replacing it with another,” advises John Starbuck. “So how about ‘Mahmudullah’ sung to the Mamma Mia bit of Bohemian Rhapsody?”
Also: Mahmudullah here i go again, Mahmu, how can I resist him.
21st over: Bangladesh 102-4 (Mahmudullah 46, Shakib 0) There’s not much batting to come, so this is the partnership; the last was 79 off 95.
WICKET! Das c Salman b Iftikhar 45 (Bangladesh 102-4)Oh man! Das can barely bring himself to leave, standing in shock at the evil he’s perpetrated, plopping a nondescript delivery – is nondescript delivery oxymoron? – into the hands of midwicket. He must’ve lost concentration, turning the face too early and imparting a leading edge; he’ll be feeling very poorly because he was batting nicely and in no trouble whatsoever. That could be a crucial breakthrough.
21st over: Bangladesh 102-3 (Das 45, Mahmudullah 46) Problems for Babar. Das takes one to long on, then Mahmudullah again makes sure not to miss out on a poor ball, flicking fine – finest – off the pads. I actually think the ball hits Rizwan’s glove, but it makes no odds, racing to the fence.
20th over: Bangladesh 96-3 (Das 44, Mahmudullah 41) Pakistan are struggling to sustain pressure, bowling too few good balls and too many bad ones; as I type, Usama flings Das a knee-high full-toss, and swipes it to cow for four. Then, after a dot and a single, Mah mah mah mah mah mah mah mah, mah mah mah mah mah Mamudullah Mamudullah makes room, espying a long hop, making a cuppa, confitting a duck and singing all of Shine on You Crazy Diamond, before hoiking over midwicket for the first six of the innings.
19th over: Bangladesh 81-3 (Das 38, Mahmudullah 32) It’s Iftkhar who returns and he’s gently milked for two singles and a two. The partnership is 62 off 78, and for as long as it lives, Bangladesh can aim to set a target of beyond 250.
“While I don’t really feel like change strips achieve much in cricket (everybody wears white/cream to play tests and it works fine),” says Andrew Cosgrove, “weren’t there change strips for the last World Cup? I seem to remember India had an orange (saffron, I guess) one, and Sri Lanka’s was an excellent yellow.”
That’s exactly my point: change kits aren’t required to help us see what’s going on, but there are some garish beauties we’re not getting, that we fully deserve.
18th over: Bangladesh 81-3 (Das 38, Mahmudullah 32) I wonder if the below is fully true; I’m sure England are enjoying hanging out, but I’m not sure you can have that much fun when getting battered every few days. Still, I’m glad if they’re able to compartmentalise – I don’t require them to suffer for me – and to say they’re in credit is an understatement. Anyroad, two singles then Usama drops short and Das cuts hard, earning four through backward point; both these two are batting with aggression and composure.
17th over: Bangladesh 75-3 (Das 33, Mahmudullah 31) These two are rotating the strike pretty well, Das taking one which allows Mahmudullah to free arms, punishing a short wide one just past the dive at 45. That raises the fifty partnership – off 63 deliveries – and this is some good work from the batters. Seven off the over, and Pakistan need something. Dare Babar give Afridi another couple?
16th over: Bangladesh 68-3 (Das 31, Mahmudullah 23) I keep saying this, but I think teams should have change kits; both today’s sides wearing green feels like a waste. Usama continues and after a single to Mahmudullah, Das goes at him but doesn’t get everything, Rauf sprinting in off the long-on fence … only for the ball to drop fractionally short of his forward dive. The batters run another single, four dots follow, and Pakistan have returned from the break the better.
Bangladesh’s Litton Das on strike. Photograph: Bikas Das/AP15th over: Bangladesh 66-3 (Das 30, Mahmudullah 22) Pakistan have lost control of this a little but continue with Wasim after drinks, hoping the break breaks momentum and also that the ball starts reversing; Waqar advises us that in this competition, he’s done better when it’s older. There’s nary a hint of it for now, but he still rushes through a maiden ad Pakistan needed that, the run-rate up to 4.41.
14th over: Bangladesh 66-3 (Das 30, Mahmudullah 22) What I love about Mahmudullah is his preternatural refusal to miss out on anything that deserves treatment. When Usama strays down leg, he’s tickled around the corner to the fence, a wide follows, then a much better delivery that turns away from the bat as its face is opened; the edge means nothing, as there’s no slip in.
13th over: Bangladesh 61-3 (Das 30, Mahmudullah 21) In comms, Waqar isn’t happy. Pakistan had Bangladesh under the pump but then Rauf let them out by sending down his half-volleys – though he accepts the wicket-ball was a beauty. And this latest Wasim over goes for five singles; Pakistan could use a wicket.
“This match matters a lot for England in terms of Champions Trophy qualification,” writes Steve Rackett. “Pakistan who host the next competition will qualify as hosts. The other qualification places will be decided at this WC. The top seven will qualify bar Pakistan. If, somehow, Bangladesh win this and Pakistan come eighth, England will need to get into the top seven and their game against Netherlands could become a qualification play-off. It still might, but if Pakistan win, England need to finish in the top eight, which seems achievable? In short though, England need a Pakistan win for CT purposes as it gives them a better chance of finishing above Bangladesh.”
And, of course, these rules – in place since 2021 –had somehow eluded England until they were advised of them in Lucknow on Sunday.
12th over: Bangladesh 56-3 (Das 28, Mahmudullah 18) Usama replaces Rauf and that’s good to see; it’s not clear what, if anything, has been done to his hand, but he’s bowling. His first three deliveries yield two singles, but then he strays full and again Mahmudullah refuses to miss out, clouting through cover. Again, the fielder is Shafique, who chases, dives, and pulls the ball back on the fence … but it hits him while he’s in contact with the rope, and a further one means eight from the over. The rebuild is gathering speed, the partnership 33 off 36.
11th over: Bangladesh 48-3 (Das 25, Mahmudullah 13) Mohammad Wasim replaces Afridi and immediately, Das scents opportunity, taking two towards midwicket before timing away a wide one that lifts to backward point for four. That’s a vey good shot – he waited, then administered perfect contact at the top of the bounce. A single follows, then another four, cover-driven by Mahmudullah – he’s in nick – and my rumbling stomach reminds me to advise those with an interest in cricket picnics that Co-op’s Irresistible Hand Cooked Sea Salt & Chardonnay Wine Vinegar crisps are exceptional. Eleven off the over, and Bangladesh needed that.
10th over: Bangladesh 37-3 (Das 19, Mahmudullah 9) Inserting VT into the middle of overs is kind of odd, but who can complain about being reminded of Afghanistan’s behaviour yesterday? Jonathan Trott is doing a brilliant job there but we shouldn’t forget that they’ve impressed in the last two tournaments too; what’s changed, and perhaps this is Trott’s influence, is that they’ve learned ruthless and composure under pressure. Back, though, to our match, Das forces a single to mid-on at that’s the end of a powerplay which has gone very well indeed for Pakistan.