Pakistan beat Bangladesh in first warm-up match

Sohaib Maqsood’s unbeaten 93 helped Pakistan beat Bangladesh by three wickets in their first World Cup warm-up match in Sydney. Sohaib hit nine fours and two sixes during a 90-ball knock as Pakistan recovered from 8-2 and the loss of regular wickets to chase down Bangladesh’s 246 all out with 11 balls to spare. Seamer Mohammed Irfan had earlier taken five wickets for Pakistan, who will conclude their World Cup preparations with a match versus England, also in Sydney, on Wednesday. Pakistan made quick headway after losing the toss and being asked to bowl by Bangladesh, with Anamul Haque (0) and Mominul Haque (7) back in the pavilion with just 16 on the board. But a 168-run partnership for the third wicket between Mahmudullah (83) and Tamim Iqbal (81) stabilised the Tigers’ innings, before the batsmen fell in the 39th and 40th overs respectively. Mushfiqur Rahim’s first-ball duck saw Bangladesh lose three wickets for six runs and they then shipped their last five for 15 runs after Shakib Al Hasan (31 off 30 balls) had played a sharp cameo. Irfan was the pick of Pakistan’s bowlers, with his 5-52 including the final four Bangladesh wickets, three of which came in his last over, but leg spinner Yasir Shah (2-42) also chipped in with two scalps. Bangladesh’s attack wasted little time getting stuck into Pakistan’s batters, though, with Rubel Hossain removing Sarfraz Ahmed (1) and Mashrafe Mortaza dismissing Ahmed Shehzad (5), Anamul Haque the catcher on both occasions.