Pakistan finishes fifth after fourth straight win at WC

LONDON, July 06 (AP): Win, win, win, win ... out. Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 94 runs at Lord's for a fourth straight win and still missed out on the Cricket World Cup semifinals on Friday.

Going to the last four instead was New Zealand, a team Pakistan beat by six wickets in the final over last week.

Pakistan secured fifth place and finished on the same points as fourth-placed New Zealand. Both teams had five wins but the Black Caps advanced with a superior net run-rate.

To reach the semis, Pakistan had to win by an unprecedented 316 runs. It didn't take on the challenge and finished on 315-9 with Imam-ul-Haq scoring a 100-ball 100 and Babar Azam 96 in 98. The updated maths meant, to advance to the semis, Pakistan had to bowl out Bangladesh for 7 or less, and that equation died in the second over of the chase.

"I do feel net run-rate needs to be looked at. One really poor game and you're really battling to recover," Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur said. His side rued losing its opener to West Indies by seven wickets after being dismissed for 105.

With the benefit of hindsight, Arthur added, "I'd like it to be number of wins and then head to head and then net run-rate in the future that determines places when points are level."

Powered once more by the brilliant Shakib Al Hasan (64 runs in 77 balls), Bangladesh ended on 221 all out. The 19-year-old Shaheen Afridi swung the ball and took 6-35, the best figures by a Pakistan bowler in World Cup history, and the youngest bowler in tournament history to achieve a 5-for. He ended with 16 wickets in five matches.

Shakib finished his tournament with a total of 606 runs from eight innings, the third highest ever in World Cup history, behind India's Sachin Tendulka r (673 in 11 innings) and Australia's Matthew Hayden (659 in 10). Shakib averaged 86 runs.

"He's been absolutely beautiful," Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza said. "He has done what he could do ... I think he's one of the best (World Cup) performances of all time."

Shakib's total could yet be overtaken after Saturday's two games involving three openers: India's Rohit Sharma and Australia's David Warner and Aaron Finch.

Shakib's record-tying seventh half-century at a World Cup matched Tendulkar's feat in 2003.

New Zealand joined Australia, India and England in the last four. Who meets who next week will be decided on Saturday.

Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman returned 5-75. That haul included a superb caught and bowled catch against Shadab Khan after diving low, to move to 20 wickets, four behind tournament leader Mitchell Starc.