Shehzad hands Pakistan morale-boosting win

DHAKA, (Reuters) – Ahmed Shehzad and Misbah-ul-Haq  helped to put Pakistan’s recent troubles behind them as the duo  hit centuries to steer their team to a morale-boosting 89-run  victory over Bangladesh in a World Cup warm up match today.
The win would have helped to put the players in the right  frame of mind for the Feb 19-April 2 tournament after their  recent on-field exploits were overshadowed by the ban handed to  three former team mates for spot-fixing.

Ahmed Shehzad
Ahmed Shehzad

Pakistan scored 285 for nine in their 50 overs before  skittling out Bangladesh 196 in the 42nd over, with the hosts  losing their last three wickets for the addition of just two  runs.
Bangladesh were put on the back foot from the start as they  lost opener Tamim Iqbal when Abdul Razzaq knocked over his bails  with the very first delivery.
Shehzad made the most of benefitting from two dropped  catches to hit 103 from 122 balls with a six and nine boundaries  while Misbah smashed a 100-ball century with four sixes and  eight fours.
Suhrawadi Shuvo and Abdur Razzak dropped Shehzad while he  was on 42 and 56 respectively, which allowed the match to swing  Pakistan’s way.
“I am not disappointed with the (dropped) catch by Razzak as  he has never been our best fielder but the other catches which  went down were disappointing,” said Bangladesh coach Jamie  Siddons.
Pakistan play their first World Cup Group A match against  unfancied Kenya on Feb. 23 in Hambantota.
Bangladesh meet fellow co-hosts India in Group B in the  opening match of the tournament on Feb. 19 in Dhaka.