Dropped catchpublished at 16.2 overs

16.2 overs

Ban 106-4

A rare bum note on what has otherwise been a pitch-perfect rendition of the concerto from Pakistan. Shakib hooks Amir aerially towards deep mid-wicket, where Ahmed Shehzad comes off the fence but shells a chcnace that should have been taken.

Andy Johnson: Corridor cricket at uni. Square-leg flatmate had a mandolin in his room. If you hit it and it made an audible 'bruuuiiing' it was given as four runs.  

Lots of willow-wielding by Shakib, but Wahab's length is just too consistent. Noise levels in the crowd have dipped - I think I've even seen one Bangladesh fan having a nap. Shakib does smear one through the covers for four but, as consolation prizes go, it's the equivalent of watching your house burn to the ground, then finding a pound in your dressing-gown pocket. 

Mel Jones
Former Australia batter

"Five overs to go here...and Bangladesh have got their backs right up against the wall. The run chase is just tapering away."

Mohammad Irfan lumbers back into the attack, met by a cheeky sweep for four by Shakib. How do you sweep a 7ft 1in fast bowler for four? That might have angered the big man, with what looks like a collision between the pair when Shakib runs through for a single. I'll be honest, as T20 finishes go, it's not great.

Mashidur Miah: Mushfiqur Rahim & Shakib Al Hasan at the crease together... here comes a run out.

I'm hearing that there are about 30,000 in Kolkata for this match. A decent crowd, but Eden Gardens is so massive that there are still swathes of empty seats. Wahab Riaz is back, holding a length that has Mushfiqur doing a lot swinging and not much hitting. When he finally gets willow on leather, the Bangladesh keeper hooks for four.

Pommie Mbangwa
Former Zimbabwe fast bowler

"Pakistan will be wary of the fact that theirs is a very tough group. In order to come out of it net run-rate might even come in to play - that will be in their thoughts."   

Cricket can be very odd in these circumstances. The result is all but assured, yet we have to go through the last rites. I'm not sure of any other sport where the defeated have to go through such torture before they are put out of their misery - even more so in a Test match.

Alex Stockton: Once used a clarinet as a cricket bat before going out to play at a school concert. The pick up was slightly bottom-heavy.

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Plenty more than two a ball needed by the Tigers now. The rate goes up with pretty much every delivery bowled. Afridi, perfectly manicured facial hair, sprints through his final over, with Mushfiqur almost coming a cropper to one that pins him in front. Just sliding down. The skipper takes his cap with 2-27 from his four overs. I think we know who the MOM will be.

Brendon Julian
Former Australia seamer

"They look sharp Pakistan. They've been red hot with the bat and ball, and in the field as well." 

Mushfiqur Rahim joins what is looking like an increasingly hopeless fight. Night has properly fallen now in Kolkata, the lights illuminating an impressive Pakistan display.

James Truscott: Me and my brother used to play cricket in living room with a stress ball and either a cardboard roll or toy light-saber as a bat!

Are we just going through the motions here? Pakistan are comfortable, Afridi is whipping them down with the elasticity of Dennis the Menace's slingshot. Shakib finds the boundary with a cut behind point, but Bangladesh are falling further behind the rate with each delivery that passes. In the stands, the fans in green are having a right good do.

George Holmes: When it comes to odd cricketing equipment while our boss was away over Christmas me and a colleague got in some batting practice with an umbrella and a ping pong ball. I think I connected better a few times with it than I ever have in the nets with the willow.

Still Shoaib, with Shakib looking to dance. Mahmudullah is the new man, fortunate not to pick out the man at deep square with a slog sweep that just bounces short. The rate is now well above 12. There's a Bangladesh fan in a Marouane Fellaini wig looking very glum in the stands.

Brendon Julian
Former Australia seamer

"That's a very big wicket for Shahid Afridi and Pakistan. They'll sense that will put them in front here."