Afghanistan vs Bangladesh: ICC World Cup 2023
In a thrilling encounter at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on October 7, Bangladesh, led by Shakib Al Hasan, opted to bowl first against Afghanistan, captained by Hashmatullah Shahidi. The match unfolded with intense moments and impressive performances from both sides, ultimately culminating in a victory for Bangladesh by 6 wickets. Here’s a breakdown of the key highlights:
Match Overview
Player of the Match: Mehidy Hasan Miraz
Mehidy Hasan Miraz, with his outstanding all-round performance, was named the Player of the Match. He not only showcased his prowess with the ball but also played a crucial innings, guiding Bangladesh to victory. In his own words, “It’s a great moment for me, I’ve done a lot of hard work in the past. But the credit also must go to team management for believing in me.”
- Toss Decision: Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bowl first.
- Afghanistan’s Batting: Despite a promising start from openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (47) and Ibrahim Zadran (22), Afghanistan faced setbacks as they lost wickets rapidly. By 37.2 overs, all Afghan batters were out, setting a target of 157 runs.
- Bangladesh’s Bowling: Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz were the stars with the ball, both picking up three wickets. Shoriful Islam took two, while Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed claimed one each.
Afghanistan Innings
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz † | c Tanzid Hasan b Mustafizur Rahman | 47 | 62 | 4 | 1 | 75.80 |
| Ibrahim Zadran | c Tanzid Hasan b Shakib Al Hasan | 22 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 88.00 |
| Rahmat Shah | c Litton Das b Shakib Al Hasan | 18 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 72.00 |
| Hashmatullah Shahidi (c) | c Towhid Hridoy b Mehidy Hasan Miraz | 18 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 47.36 |
| Najibullah Zadran | b Shakib Al Hasan | 5 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 38.46 |
| Mohammad Nabi | b Taskin Ahmed | 6 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | b Shoriful Islam | 22 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 110.00 |
| Rashid Khan | b Mehidy Hasan Miraz | 9 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 56.25 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | b Mehidy Hasan Miraz | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | c Towhid Hridoy b Shoriful Islam | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | not out | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Extras: (w 8) 8
Total: 156 (37.2 overs, RR: 4.17)
Fall of wickets: 1-47 (Ibrahim Zadran, 8.2 ov), 2-83 (Rahmat Shah, 15.1 ov), 3-112 (Hashmatullah Shahidi, 24.4 ov), 4-112 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 25.2 ov), 5-122 (Najibullah Zadran, 28.4 ov), 6-126 (Mohammad Nabi, 29.6 ov), 7-150 (Rashid Khan, 34.2 ov), 8-156 (Azmatullah Omarzai, 35.2 ov), 9-156 (Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 36.3 ov), 10-156 (Naveen-ul-Haq, 37.2 ov)
Bowling:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy Rate | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taskin Ahmed | 6 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 5.33 | 1 |
| Shoriful Islam | 6.2 | 1 | 34 | 2 | 5.36 | 2 |
| Mustafizur Rahman | 7 | 1 | 28 | 1 | 4.00 | 0 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | 8 | 0 | 30 | 3 | 3.75 | 0 |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz | 9 | 3 | 25 | 3 | 2.77 | 1 |
| Mahmudullah | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7.00 | 0 |
Bangladesh Innings
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanzid Hasan | run out (Najibullah Zadran) | 5 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 38.46 |
| Litton Das | b Fazalhaq Farooqi | 13 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 72.22 |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c) | c Rahmat Shah b Naveen-ul-Haq | 57 | 73 | 5 | 0 | 78.08 |
| Najmul Hossain Shanto | not out | 59 | 83 | 3 | 1 | 71.08 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | c Fazalhaq Farooqi b Azmatullah Omarzai | 14 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 73.68 |
| Mushfiqur Rahim † | not out | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 |
Extras: (lb 3, nb 1, w4) 8
Total: 158/4 (34.4 overs, RR: 4.55)
Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Tanzid Hasan, 4.1 ov), 2-27 (Litton Das, 6.4 ov), 3-124 (Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 28.1 ov), 4-146 (Shakib Al Hasan, 33.3 ov)
Bowling:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy Rate | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 5 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 3.80 | 2 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 7 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 4.28 | 0 |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | 5.4 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 5.47 | 1 |
| Rashid Khan | 9 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 5.33 | 0 |
| Mohammad Nabi | 6 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 3.00 | 1 |
| Azmatullah Omarzai | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 4.50 | 0 |
Bangladesh’s Chase
- Early Wobbles: Chasing the target, Bangladesh encountered a few hiccups, losing some wickets early on.
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz & Najmul Hossain Shanto: The duo of Mehidy Hasan Miraz (57) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (59) stabilized the innings with their exceptional batting, steering Bangladesh to victory.
- Historical Win: This victory marked Bangladesh’s biggest win in terms of balls remaining in a World Cup, surpassing their previous record set against Netherlands in the 2011 World Cup.
Head-to-Head Stats
- Past Encounters: In 16 face-offs till now, Bangladesh has emerged victorious 10 times, while Afghanistan has won six times.
- World Cup Records: Bangladesh’s win against Afghanistan was their third consecutive opening match win in World Cup campaigns, having defeated Afghanistan in 2015 and South Africa in 2019.
FAQs:
The partnership between Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto, stabilizing Bangladesh’s innings, was the turning point, leading them to victory.
Despite a strong start by Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, Afghanistan faced consistent setbacks, losing all wickets by 37.2 overs, setting a target of 157 runs.
Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz were exceptional with the ball, each picking up three wickets, contributing significantly to Bangladesh’s bowling effort.
Conclusion
Bangladesh’s victory against Afghanistan in the ICC World Cup 2023 opener highlighted their resilience and determination. With stellar performances from key players like Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh showcased their mettle on the global stage. This win not only bolstered their World Cup campaign but also marked a significant milestone in their cricketing journey, setting the stage for more thrilling encounters in the tournament.
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