Pakistan vs Bangladesh: Cricket World Cup live scores, blog

Pakistan will have to break records in order to qualify for the semi-finals when they go up against Bangladesh on Friday. Join The Roar for coverage of the match, with live scores and a blog starting at 7:30pm (AEST).

Realistically, it’s highly unlikely Pakistan can overcome the net run rate differential currently standing between them and a semi-final spot.

However, it’s technically possible should Pakistan win the toss and bat first.

Looking back at their tournament thus far, Pakistan have had four wins, three losses and a washout with Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh have had three wins, four losses and a washout, also against Sri Lanka.

Most recently, Pakistan defeated Afghanistan in a nail-biting and chaotic finish at Headingley, Leeds.

Afghanistan batted first, making 227 runs and finishing nine wickets down. In Pakistan’s batting innings they lost early wickets and fell to 6/156, but held their nerve late in the chase, making the runs with two balls to spare.

Pakistan’s thrilling three wicket victory created chaos though, as a number of fans ran onto the pitch post-win and the players had to be escorted off.

Bangladesh last played on Tuesday against India, who put 314 on the board from their 50 overs. Bangladesh took nine wickets in the innings, including two from the last two balls.

Bangladesh were then bowled out in 48 overs for 286 runs, 28 short of the target set by India.

Bangladesh will play the last game of their World Cup campaign; they have beaten the three teams below them on the standings – South Africa, West Indies and Afghanistan – and had a couple of competitive games against teams who will play in the semi-finals.

Will they finish on a positive note against Pakistan?

Pakistan are mathematically still a chance to make a semi-final, with a win they can move equal on points with New Zealand (currently in fourth place), however Pakistan face a huge net run rate deficit to take New Zealand’s place.

They need to win by over 300 runs, an ODI record.

Pakistan must bat first, make a total well over 300 and then bowl Bangladesh out for very few runs; should Bangladesh win the toss and put Pakistan in the field, they will have eliminated Pakistan from semi-finals before a ball is even bowled.

Prediction
Pakistan need to finish well for a respectable fifth placing, however, Bangladesh have a huge opportunity to cause an upset and end their tournament on a high note.

Pakistan to win.

Game Information

Venue: Lord’s, London, England
Time: 7:30pm AEST
TV: Fox Cricket
Online: Foxtel App, Foxtel Now, Kayo Sports
Betting: Pakistan $1.44, Bangladesh $2.73

Pakistan (squad)
Sarfaraz Ahmed (captain & wk), Asif Ali, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Hasnain, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Wahab Riaz

Bangladesh (squad)
Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Abu Jayed, Liton Das (wk), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan, Mohammad Mithun, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mosaddek Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Tamim Iqbal