LAHORE: Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto’s centuries, followed by Taskin Ahmed’s four-fer led Bangladesh to a crushing 89-run victory over Afghanistan in the fourth match of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023.
Set to chase a mammoth 335, Afghanistan could raise 245 before being bundled out in the 46th over despite Ibrahim Zadran and Hashmatullah Shahidi’s half-centuries.
Afghanistan had a dismal start to their pursuit as they lost their in-form opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz (1) with just one run on the board.
Following an early slump, Rahmat Shah and Ibrahim Zadran anchored the run chase as they put on a sensible 78-run partnership for the second wicket until Taskin Ahmed castled the former.
Rahmat scored 33 off 57 deliveries, hitting five boundaries.
Ibrahim was then joined by his captain Shahidi and the pair put together a 52-run stand before young pacer Hasan Mahmud removed the set batter.
Ibrahim remained the top-scorer for Afghanistan in their first Asia Cup 2023 fixture with a 74-ball 75 which featured 10 boundaries and a six.
Shahidi was then involved in another crucial partnership for his side when he added 62 runs for the fourth wicket with Najibullah Zadran.
The pair had kept Afghanistan in the hunt before both perished in successive overs to leave their side reeling at 196/5 in 38 overs.
Zadran could score 17 off 25 while Shahidi scored a 60-ball 51, laced with six boundaries.
Following their departure, Afghanistan’s batting lineup crumbled and they were eventually bundled out for 245.
Meanwhile, Rashid Khan launched a brief counterattack on Bangladesh’s bowlers with a brisk 24-run cameo but was undone by Taskin Ahmed.
Taskin led the bowling attack for Bangladesh with 4/44, followed by Shoriful Islam’s 3/36 while Hasan Mahmud and Mehidy Hasan Miraz made one scalp each.
Batting first, Bangladesh raised a mammoth 334/5 in the allotted 50 overs at the back of sensational centuries by Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto.
Bangladesh batters justified their captain Shakib Al Hasan’s decision of batting first after the coin flipped in his favour as they dominated the spin-packed Afghanistan bowling attack to put a massive total on the board.
Bangladesh openers Mohammad Naim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz laid a solid foundation with a brilliant 60-run partnership.
The pair scored at a brisk rate and frustrated Afghan bowlers Mujeeb Ur Rahman got rid of Naim in the 10th over. He could score 28 off 32 deliveries, hitting five boundaries.
Afghanistan then had another success in the next over when Gulbadin Naib Towhid Hridoy for a two-ball duck.
Following the back-to-back blows, Najmul Hossain Shanto joined Miraz at the crease and the pair launched an astounding recovery.
Miraz and Shanto cut Afghanistan’s comeback in their first Asia Cup 2023 fixture short as they knitted a magnificent 194-run partnership for the third wicket.
Both batters had settled down with Miraz amassing his second ODI century but soon retired out after sustaining a blow to his hand.
He remained the top-scorer for Bangladesh with 119-ball 112 which featured seven boundaries and three sixes.
Following his departure, Shanto put on a brief partnership with Mushfiqur Rahim and perished soon after bringing up his century.
He scored 104 off 105 deliveries, laced up with nine boundaries and two sixes.
With Bangladesh’s both mainstays back in the hut, their captain Shakib Al Hasan and wicketkeeper batter Rahim bolstered the total at the death with brisk cameos.
Rahim scored 25 from 15 deliveries with the help of one boundary and a six while Shakib scored an unbeaten 32 off 18, smashing four boundaries and a six.
For Afghanistan, only Gulbadin Naib and Mujeeb Ur Rahman could pick up a wicket.
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