module testbench;
  logic signed [7:0] x = 8'b11100000;
  logic signed [7:0] y = 8'b00010100;
  logic [15:0] z;
  initial begin
    z = x*y;
    $display("%b %b", z[14:7]) // :)
    //$display("%b", (15'(x*y))[14:7]); // :(
    //$display("%b", 15'(x*y)[14:7]); // :(
    //$display("%b", {15'(x*y)}[14:7]); // :(
    //none of the above 3 works
  end
endmodule

result <= 15'(a*b)[14:7];