In a dominant performance, Bangladesh’s all-rounders Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto smashed centuries, leading their team to an 89-run victory over Afghanistan in the Asia Cup. The match took place in Lahore on Sunday.
Miraz scored an impressive 112 off 119 balls, marking his highest one-day international (ODI) score. Shanto, on the other hand, contributed with a solid 104 off 105 balls. Their partnership helped Bangladesh set a formidable total of 334-5.
Bangladesh’s pace bowlers, Taskin Ahmed (4-44), Shoriful Islam (3-36), and Hasan Mahmud (1-61), wreaked havoc on Afghanistan’s batting lineup, taking wickets at regular intervals. This excellent bowling display led to Afghanistan being bowled out for 245 runs in 44.3 overs.
With this win, Bangladesh keeps their hopes alive for a spot in the Super Four stage of the tournament. Afghanistan, on the other hand, will face title holders Sri Lanka in their next match to determine who will proceed to the next round.
Afghanistan started their chase of 335 runs on a disastrous note, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz getting dismissed for just one run in the second over. Although Ibrahim Zadran top-scored with 75, his efforts fell short as the rest of the batting order struggled to maintain the required momentum.
Despite contributions from Hashmatullah Shahidi (51) and Najibullah Zadran (17), Afghanistan lost wickets in quick succession, and the required run rate kept increasing. Rashid Khan’s quick 24 runs off 15 balls came late in the innings and wasn’t enough to turn the tide in Afghanistan’s favor.
Bangladesh captain, Shakib Al Hasan, praised Miraz’s exceptional performance, stating that the team executed their plans perfectly. Meanwhile, Afghanistan captain, Shahidi, expressed disappointment with his team’s bowling performance, acknowledging that they had conceded too many runs.
In the first innings, Miraz and Shanto formed a crucial third-wicket partnership of 194 runs for Bangladesh. This partnership shifted the momentum in their team’s favor after the early dismissals of Mohammad Naim (28) and Towhid Hridoy (0).
Miraz, who opened the innings, showcased his abilities as a batsman, hitting seven boundaries before sustaining an injury on his left hand. Shanto, on the other hand, hit nine boundaries and two sixes before being run out in the 45th over. Bangladesh accumulated 103 runs in the last ten overs, thanks to Shakib’s quickfire unbeaten 32 off 18 balls.
Afghanistan’s spin trio, composed of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan, failed to contain the run flow, with only Mujeeb managing to take a wicket. Despite having a strong spin attack, Afghanistan couldn’t match Bangladesh’s batting prowess.
Pakistan has already secured a place in the Super Four stage from Group A, having defeated Nepal and experiencing a no-result against India due to rain.
With their comprehensive victory over Afghanistan, Bangladesh remains a strong contender in the Asia Cup, with their eyes set on the next round of the tournament.