Bangladesh ace their first test
Two three-wicket hauls from Shakib Al Hasan and Mehedi Hasan Miraz and two fifties from the latter and Najmul Hossain Shanto enabled Bangladesh to start their World Cup campaign on the best possible note.
At the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala today, October 7, the Tigers handed a six-wicket defeat to Afghanistan with a whopping 92 balls to spare.
Afghanistan, who had been relatively well-placed at 47-1 and 112-2 after being sent into bat, crumbled to 156 all out inside 38 overs, courtesy of some intelligent bowling and captaincy.
Shakib led the way with initial breakthroughs, and the Bangladesh skipper timely introduced his bowlers in the middle overs as Afghanistan were eyeing 250-plus score.
Miraz also scalped three and demonstrated his prowess with the willow. He arrived in the middle when the Tigers were in a spot of bother during chase, at 17 for two inside seven overs.
Miraz teamed with Shanto to compose a 97-run stand, taking the Tigers near the shores of victory.
It took a sensational one-handed catch by Rahmat Shah in the in-field to remove Miraz, and afterwards it was only a matter of formality.
Shakib also chipped in with 14 runs while Shanto stayed unbeaten on 59 off 83 balls.
Tigers on the brink of win despite Miraz's departure
Mehedi Hasan Miraz fell to brilliant one-handed catch by Rahmat Shah at mid-off but Bangladesh are still well-placed to secure a easy win against Afghanistan in the two sides' World Cup opener in Dharamshala today.
The Tigers are 135 for three after 31 overs, needing 22 more runs.
Skipper Shakib Al Hasan has joined Najmul Hossain Shanto --approaching his sixth ODI fifty -- in the middle after the latter compiled a 97-run stand for the third wicket with Miraz who hit five fours for his 73-ball 57.
Miraz keeps delivering, brings up his third ODI fifty
Bangladesh all-rounder Mehedi Hasan Miraz continues to deliver the goods.
The right-hander followed up his three-for with a well-compiled fifty of 58 balls -- his third in ODIs -- on the day, helping his side recover from a tricky position in Dharamshala.
The Tigers, chasing 157 runs, are 109 for two after 26 overs and are in pole position to start their campaign on the best possible note.
When Miraz came in to bat, the Tigers were in a tricky position -- 17 for two inside seven overs. But with Najmul Hossain Shanto as the batting partner, the duo went about their business with ease.
Afghanistan, however, let themselves down in the fielding as they dropped two catches – both of which would have gotten out Miraz, who also survived a close lbw dismissal after reaching fifty.
Miraz have been in great form with the bat of late. He struck an unbeaten 112 against Afghanistan in the recently concluded Asia Cup
Miraz, Shanto steady ship with fifty partnership
Bangladesh were in a spot of bother following early loss of openers but the third-wicket stand between Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehedi Hasan Miraz have put them on course for a comfortable victory against Afghanistan in Dharamshala today.
Chasing 157 runs, the Tigers are 78 for two after 16 overs -- after losing Tanzid Hasan and Liton Das inside seven overs, with scoreboard reading 17 for two.
Miraz (37 not out) and Shanto (18 not out) have stitched a fifty run stand off 56 deliveries.
Liton falls after Tanzid's run out against run of play
Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan fell to a run-out dismissal against the run of play on his World Cup debut.
Tanzid (5) was caught ball-watching at the non-striker's end and was halfway into the crease when the fielder, Nazibullah Zadran, at extra cover picked the ball up. Liton Das sent Tanzid back early but the young opener was inches short of the line following a direct throw.
The other opener, Liton Das, soon perished for 13 off 18 balls as he got an inside-edge to a Fazalhaq Farooqi and was bowled as a result.
The Tigers are 27 for two after 7 overs, in chase of 157 runs for victory in their World Cup campaign opener.
Shakib stars as Tigers bundle out Afghanistan for 156
Bangladesh bowling, spearheaded by Shakib Al Hasan, have been thoroughly impressive in their opening World Cup match as the Tigers bundled out Afghanistan for 156 in 37.2 overs in Dharamshala today.
Electing to bowl first, skipper Shakib and Mehedi Hasan Miraz picked three wickets while Shoriful Islam scalped two. Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin also registered their names in the wickets tally.
Fizz removed the key batter, Rahmanullah Gurbaz who scored the team-high 47.
Afghanistan, who had been relatively well-placed at 112 for two, lost their last eight wickets for 44 runs.
Shakib, who in the corresponding World Cup fixture four years ago took 5-29 in Bangladesh's 62-run win, took the first two wickets to fall.
The left-arm spinner's opening eight overs yielded fine figures of 3-30 while his bowling changes were also rewarded with wickets.
Taskin strikes as Afghan innings crumbles
Skipper Shakib Al Hasan disturbed the castles of Najibullah Zadran to claim his third wicket. Six overs for 17 runs and three wickets -- Shakib Al Hasan couldn't have asked for a better start to the campaign with the ball.
And his bowling changes are working too, with Taskin Ahmed removing Mohammad Nabi soon to reduce Afghanistan to 126 for six in 30 overs.
Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi and opening batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz were dismissed in the space of four deliveries as the Afghan innings lost steam going half-way through their innings.
Shahidi, who was having trouble playing off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz, perished with an attempted slog, offering a catch on the edge of the circle to Towhid Hridoy after scoring a 37-ball 18.
Mustafizur Rahman then returned to get rid of the dangerous Gurbaz,who couldn't suss the slower ball and offered a running catch to Tanzid Hasan. Afghanistan were 112 for four after 26 overs.
Shakib strikes again
Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan struck once again, and in a similar fashion, in their World Cup 2023 opener against Afghanistan in Dharamshala today.
Following the drinks break, Shakib produced the goods with the ball in hand once again. Rahmat Shah went for a sweep and miscued it, getting a top edge and safely in the hands of Liton Das in the inner circle.
Shakib also had removed in-form opener Ibrahim Zadran in similar fashion as he also top edged while trying to sweep a Shakib delivery in the ninth over.
Rahmat and Gurbaz were looking good for Afghanistan, stitching together a 36-run stand for the second wicket before Shakib changed the momentum with the wicket of the former.
Shakib gives Tigers first breakthrough
Skipper Shakib Al Hasan gave Bangladesh a much-needed breakthrough after Afghanistan openers got off to a solid start in the two sides' World Cup 2023 opener in Dharamshala today.
Shakib removed in-form Ibrahim Zadran in the ninth over when the right-handed batter went for a sweep but only managed to get a top edge to the fielder at deep square leg. Zadran had to go after a 25-ball 22, laced with three boundaries and a maximum.
Before the wicket, Afghanistan had gotten off to a good start. They scored 48 for one after nine overs.
Afghans off to a smooth start against Tigers
Afghanistan openers have had little to no difficulty in negotiating the initial overs as they got off to a smooth start in their World Cup 2023 opener against familiar foes Bangladesh in Dharamshala today.
The pitch condition and the small square boundaries at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium have only aided the two in-form Afghan openers.
Bangladesh openers Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam have got the ball to move but anything pitched even a little bit wide, both Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz have pounced on those and dispatched them for boundaries.
Zadran picked up a short delivery from Taskin with ease, sending it sail over the square leg for the first six of the game in the fifth over.
That saw Bangladesh bring in change in the bowling line-up, with Mustafizur Rahman coming in to bowl the next over before skipper Shakib Al Hasan introduced himself in the seventh over of the game.
Bangladesh opt to field in their World Cup 2023 opener against Afghanistan\
Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to field against Afghanistan in the two sides' ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 opener in Dharamshala today.
Having sat out both the official warm-ups against Sri Lanka and England, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan returns to action.
"Generally it is a ground where the team chases well. Some help for the seamers first up and we would like to capitalise on that," Shakib said during the toss.
The Tigers have gone with two regular openers in the eleven as Tanzid Hasan Tamim will be making his World Cup debut and will play alongside Liton Das in the opening slot.
And as it seems, Bangladesh have given priority to experience as they have also included Mahmudullah Riyad in the eleven ahead of in-form Mahedi Hasan. As expected, there are three seamers with Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shoriful Islam starting for the Tigers. Skipper Shakib and Mehedi Hasan Miraz are the two spin-bowling all-rounders.
Afghanistan have picked a familiar eleven for the game, with the spin trio of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rashid Khan, and Mohammad Nabi starting for them.
The Shakib Al Hasan-led Bangladesh have had success in their recent ODI encounter with Afghanistan. The Tigers thrashed the Afghans by 89 runs in their Aisia Cup group game last month in Lahore.
Bangladesh also hold a perfect record against Afghanistan as the Tigers won by 105 runs in the 2015 edition and followed it up with another 62-run victory in 2019.
However, Bangladesh lost their first-ever bilateral series against Afghanistan at home in July when they conceded a three-match ODI series 2-1 in Chattogram.
One interesting fact: Both Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim will be surpassing Tamim Iqbal as players with the most appearances in the World Cup for Bangladesh when they take the field today. Currently, all three of them have played 29 World Cup matches each.
Playing XIs:
Bangladesh: Litton Das, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan*, Mushfiqur Rahim†, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz†, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi*, Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi