Pakistan stay alive in semi-final race, Bangladesh eliminated

KOLKATA, India :Former champions Pakistan kept alive their slender chances of making the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory against Bangladesh, who were eliminated from the tournament on Tuesday.

Electing to bat, Bangladesh never recovered from a top order collapse and posted a modest 204 before being all out in the 46th over at Eden Gardens.

Pakistan's three-pronged pace attack impressed with the new ball and were equally effective in the death overs with only Mahmudullah (56) managing a half-century for Bangladesh.

Openers Fakhar Zaman (81) and Abdullah Shafique (68) combined in a 128-run stand to set up the victory that came with 17.3 overs to spare in a major net run-rate boost for them.

Babar Azam's men moved into fifth place after their third win in seven matches, while Bangladesh became the first team to drop out of contention.

"We are trying to force things but it isn't working," Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan said after their sixth defeat in seven matches.

"We have to perform together, which is not happening. We are looking for answers but aren't getting them."

Pakistan head coach Grant Bradburn had rued how lack of swing in India had defanged his team's pace attack, usually their strong suit, in the tournament.

Bradburn must have been pleased as the pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim and Haris Rauf collectively claimed eight of the 10 Bangladesh wickets in the match.

MILESTONE WICKET

Left-arm quick Afridi (3-23) struck with his fifth delivery, trapping Tanzid Hasan lbw for his 100th ODI wicket.

Najmul Hossain Shanto fell in Afridi's next over and Bangladesh slumped to 23-3 after Rauf (2-36) had Mushfiqur Rahim caught behind in the sixth over.

Litton Das (45) and