Bangladesh vs Afghanistan was an ODI cricket match that took place on Saturday, 07 October 2023 05:00:00 UTC at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala.
Bangladesh 158 for 4 beat Afghanistan 156 by six wickets
| Players | Runs |
|---|---|
| Shanto | 59* |
| Mehidy | 57 |
| Omarzai | 1-9 |
| Players | Runs |
|---|---|
| Gurbaz | 47 |
| Mehidy | 3-25 |
| Shakib | 3-30 |
Bangladesh’s foray into the 2023 ODI World Cup was marked by a resounding six-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Dharamsala, propelled by Shakib Al Hasan’s impactful three-wicket performance and Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s versatile all-round display.
This win marked Afghanistan’s 13th consecutive World Cup defeat, a streak extending back to 2015.
Initiating proceedings after being sent into bat, Afghanistan established a steady foundation before Shakib altered the course of the game with crucial dismissals of Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah.
Afghanistan found themselves unable to recover, sliding from a promising 83 for 1 to a meager total of 156 all out.
Mehidy complemented Shakib’s efforts with a three-wicket haul of his own, contributing significantly to Afghanistan’s collapse.
His subsequent innings at No. 3, though marked by moments of fortune, saw him securing a half-century.
Najmul Hossain Shanto continued his impressive form, finishing unbeaten on 59, as Bangladesh comfortably sealed the victory with more than 15 overs to spare.
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Highlights
Despite the picturesque backdrop of Dharamsala, renowned for its scenic beauty in world cricket, the sand-based and sticky outfield presented challenges.
Fielders grappled with sticking knees during slides, and visible puffs of dust arose when fast bowlers approached their deliveries.
Fortunately, both teams emerged unscathed from any injuries.
Opting to bowl after winning the toss, Shakib capitalized on early movement with the new ball.
However, Bangladesh’s seamers shifted to a short length prematurely, occasionally straying in their lines.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim took advantage, consistently finding boundaries from the second to the eighth over.
Shakib Al Hasan displayed his prowess by dismantling the 47-run partnership as Ibrahim attempted a sweeping shot from well outside off, only to top-edge it to deep square-leg.
Shortly after, Bangladesh’s captain claimed Rahmat’s wicket in a similar fashion, the only distinction being a catch near short extra cover.
Rahmat’s dismissal applied the brakes on Afghanistan’s scoring rate, with the team managing a mere five runs in overs 16 to 19.
Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, particularly, grappled with rotating the strike against Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
In the 22 balls he faced from the offspinner, Shahidi accumulated a mere three runs.
Attempting to break free, Shahidi pulled Mahmudullah for a boundary and charged down the track to Mustafizur Rahman to smash him through the covers.
However, his endeavor to take on Mehidy resulted in a sky-high shot, leading to a catch at mid-on.
Meanwhile, at the other end, Rahmanullah Gurbaz raced to become Afghanistan’s fastest player to reach 1000 ODI runs, achieving this milestone in 27 innings, surpassing Rahmat’s record by four innings.
However, Shahidi’s struggles impacted Gurbaz as well. Seeking to boost the scoring rate, Gurbaz charged at Mustafizur, only to discover that the seamer had cleverly slipped in a slower ball.
His mistimed swing found Tanzid Hasan charging in from deep cover for a catch.
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Shakib returned to the attack, claiming his third wicket as Najibullah Zadran misjudged the line and was bowled.
In the subsequent over, Mohammad Nabi chopped one from Taskin Ahmed onto his stumps, leaving Afghanistan at 126 for 6.
Azmatullah Omarzai and Rashid Khan guided the team to a score of 150 before Rashid succumbed to the sluggishness of the surface, playing on against Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
The innings quickly unraveled after that point.
In defense of a modest total of 156, Afghanistan encountered a shaky start with the ball.
Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman grappled with their lines, allowing Bangladesh to reach 27 for 2.
The situation worsened as Tanzid Hasan was run out due to a mix-up with Litton Das. Litton, too, fell victim to a delivery from Farooqi, edging onto his stumps two overs later.
Suddenly, Afghanistan had a chance to mount a comeback. However, their inability to capitalize on opportunities was rooted in their own errors.
Najibullah dropped Mehidy at backward point off Farooqi when the total was at 38. Soon after, Mujeeb missed a chance at deep third, giving Mehidy another reprieve when he was on 16 and 23, respectively.
Mehidy and Shanto opted for a more conservative approach, focusing on singles and twos. Despite this, Mehidy reached his half-century in just 58 balls.
When Afghanistan finally broke the 97-run partnership, Bangladesh needed only 33 more runs to secure the victory, allowing Shanto to complete his own half-century in the process.
