Abu Dhabi: Mushfiqur Rahim came to Bangladesh's rescue for the second time in this tournament after a horror start that saw them lose their top three with just 12 on the board.

A 144-run partnership with Mohammad Mithun helped Bangladesh climb out of that mess and put up 239, a total they would have happily agreed to after a nightmarish first seven overs.

Besides, Pakistan also have lost their two top order batsmen early in the inning.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz has picked up the wicket of Fakhar Zaman while Mustafizur Rahman took Babar Azam.

Mushfiqur himself was desperately unlucky to fall a run shy of another hundred, becoming the first Bangladesh cricketer to ever be dismissed on 99 in international cricket. It wasn't just the statistical landmark he missed out on; with his dismissal, Bangladesh's hopes of putting up a total in excess of 250 all but evaporated.

Pakistan, for their part, had much to thank Junaid Khan for. Given the first start of this tournament, the left-armer put in Pakistan's best fast-bowling performance with figures of 9-1-19-4.

Bad news rained down on Bangladesh even before this must-win game had begun, with Shakib al Hasan ruled out of the tournament with a niggling finger injury that will require surgery. After they chose to bat first, Junaid, getting his chance in place of the ineffective Mohammad Amir, forced a top-edge off Soumya Sarkar when the batsman was yet to score, before a near-unplayable delivery sent Liton Das's off stump cartwheeling . Either side of Junaid's heroics, Shaheen Afridi castled Mominul Haque, as Bangladesh reeled from the loss of their top order.