Pakistan Keep Semi-Final Hopes Alive

Ahmed Shehzad produced a superb maiden century to help Pakistan to a convincing 50-run victory against Bangladesh at the World Twenty20 on Sunday.

Opener Shehzad, who had a previous highest of 98 not out in T20 internationals, scored an unbeaten 111 off 62 balls with 10 fours and five sixes at the Sher-e-Bangla Mirpur Stadium.

The 22-year-old from Lahore shared a fourth-wicket stand of 83 with Shoaib Malik (26), while Shahid Afridi blasted two sixes off the luckless Mashrafe Mortaza, whose four overs cost 63.

Shehzad's sparkling innings enabled 2009 champions Pakistan to set a commanding 190-5 against the host nation, who needed to win to keep their slender hopes alive.

However, Bangladesh never got going and could only muster a total of 140-7 from their 20 overs with pace bowler Umar Gul taking 3-30 from his four overs and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal finishing with 2-20.

Bangladesh's halfway score was a miserable 53-4, though Shakib-al-Hasan leant some respectability with successive sixes off Zulfiqar Babar on his way to 38.

Nasir Hossain, Mohammad Mahmudullah and Mortaza all made lively contributions in the closing stages, but the result was never in doubt.

With both Bangladesh and Australia now out of the race, Pakistan face West Indies in a winner-takes-all clash on Tuesday to see who will qualify for the semi-finals alongside India from Group 2.