The Latest: Pakistan wins toss and bats vs Bangladesh

By Associated Press 05 July 2019, 12:00AM

LONDON (AP) — The Latest on Day 37 of the Cricket World Cup (all times local):

10:25 a.m.

Pakistan delayed its likely Cricket World Cup exit by winning the toss and choosing to bat against Bangladesh in their group match at Lord's.

Fifth-place Pakistan needed to bat first — and must now win by an unprecedented 316 runs or more to overtake New Zealand in fourth place.

Pakistan can match the Black Caps on points and number of victories if it beats Bangladesh, but will almost certainly have a worse net run-rate.

Pakistan made no changes to the team that beat Afghanistan for its third straight win.

Bangladesh made two changes from its loss to India on Tuesday. Mahmudullah is fit again and comes in for middle-order batsman Sabbir Rahman. Spinner Mehidy Hasan replaces fast bowler Rubel Hossain.

Bangladesh would also have batted first at a sunny Lord's.

Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan has 542 runs — the second highest in the tournament and two runs behind India's Rohit Sharma — and he has scored six 50s so far. Only India great Sachin Tendulkar has scored more half-centuries in a single tournament, with seven in 2003.

Lineups:

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Wahab Riaz, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir.

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mehidy Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mustafizur Rahman.

___

9:20 a.m.

Pakistan and Bangladesh meet at Lord's in the Cricket World Cup on the penultimate day of the group stage with both teams effectively playing their last game at the tournament.

Bangladesh is definitely out but fifth-place Pakistan, which has won its last three games, has a remote mathematical chance of advancing to the semifinals. It can draw level with New Zealand in fourth on 11 points if it beats Bangladesh but needs to win by at least 316 runs on Friday to advance. That has never been achieved before in ODI history.

Pakistan could be out without a ball being bowled if it loses the toss and Bangladesh chooses to bat, eliminating any chance for Pakistan to radically improve its net run-rate to catch up with New Zealand.

Bangladesh has won the last four ODIs against Pakistan.

Pakistan has a 31-5 overall record against Bangladesh in completed matches.

___

More AP cricket: www.apnews.com/cricket and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

By Associated Press 05 July 2019, 12:00AM

Trending Stories

Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>