GROS ISLET: Pakistan beat Bangladesh in T20 Cup match, Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 21 runs in their Twenty20 World Cup ‘Group A’ match in St Lucia.

Pakistan made 172 for three off their 20 overs after winning the toss. The imposing total was built around a huge first-wicket partnership of 142 between openers Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt.

Akmal was dropped on 13 by Mohammad Ashraful, running back at mid-on, off Mashrafe Mortaza, whose four overs cost 39 runs.

There was little respite for Bangladesh as Pakistan made a strong start to their title defence. Butt’s fifty took just 29 balls, with two sixes and six fours, while Akmal reached the landmark in 43 balls, with six boundaries.

Bangladesh recovered from a slow start to make a late charge at their target with Mohammad Ashraful belting 65 and Shakib Al Hasan 47, but their dismissals ended their team’s slim hopes and they finished on 151-7.

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