London: Ton-up Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam shared a 157-run stand to guide Pakistan to 315/9 in 50 overs in their final World Cup group fixture against Bangladesh, which means they have to dismiss the Bengal Tigers for seven or less in order to make the semifinals.
Imam scored a run-a-ball 100 (4x7), his seventh in ODI cricket, while Babar struck 96 off 98 balls, hitting 11 fours, as Pakistan tried hard to get past the 350-run mark but failed in the end despite Imad Wasim's whirlwind 26-ball 43 (4x6, 6x1).
Mustafizur Rahman (5/75) took a second consecutive five-wicket haul and was Bangladesh's best bowler along with Mohammad Saifuddin (3/77).
Pakistan needed to win the toss and bat first in order to still dream of achieving the improbable.
Faced with the challenge of beating Bangladesh by 311 runs after posting 350 or by 316 runs after scoring 400, Imam and Babar played with aggression and were sensible too at the same time. Fakhar Zaman was dismissed early for just 13, taken at point by Mehidy Hasan off Saifuddin.
It was one way traffic from then on as Babar and Imam milked the Bangladesh bowlers all around the park for good-looking boundaries.
In the 30th over, Bangladesh's plight came to the fore the most when their best bowler, Mustafizur, was taken for 15 runs, including three fours hit by Babar.
The highly-talented 24-year old was unlucky to miss out on his second World Cup hundred as Saifuddin trapped him in front in the 32nd over. Babar immediately asked for a review but replays showed the ball clipping the leg stump.
Imam brought up his hundred with Mohammad Hafeez (27) for company as the pair stitched together a 66-run stand. Just after reaching the three-figure mark, Imam was out hit wicket.
Hafeez also holed out to Shakib Al Hasan in the next over off Mehidy while Haris Sohail too was dismissed cheaply for just 6. Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed got injured after being hit on his right arm while standing at the non-striker's end in the 45th over. He tried to carry on but in the end had to retire hurt.
Hard-hitting Wahab Riaz (2) was sent ahead of Shadab Khan but the ploy did not work as Saifuddin yorked him brilliantly. Shadab was also caught and bowled acrobatically by Mustafizur.
In the last 10 overs, Pakistan managed 85 runs riding Wasim's pyrotechnics. In the final over, Mustafizur got the wickets of Wasim and Mohammad Amir off back-to-back deliveries.
Brief scores: Pakistan 315/9 in 50 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 100, Babar Azam 96, Imad Wasim 43, Mustafizur Rahman 5/75, Mohammad Saifuddin 3/77) vs Bangladesh. IANS