Picture : ICC / X
Bangladesh powered by fine all- round showing by Mehidy Hasan Miraz saw them coast to a six-wicket victory over Afghanistan in their World Cup opener in Dharamsala .
Miraz first employed his off-spin effectively to take 3 for 25, helping Bangladesh to bundle out Afghanistan for 156, and then returned to make a crucial 57 off 73 balls in his side’s facile chase that got over in 34.4 overs.
Najmul Shanto too chipped in for the Tigers with a patient unbeaten 59 off 83 balls.
Earlier, Shakib Al Hasan and Miraz exploited a slightly tacky pitch to the hilt to restrict Afghanistan to a meagre 156.
Shakib and Miraz shared six wickets equally among them as Afghanistan spectacularly imploded, as only Rahmanullah Gurbaz (47 off 62 balls) offered some token fight.
However, there was no sign of such a collapse when Afghanistan were comfortably placed at 112 for two in the 25th over.
Gurbaz and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi were consolidating their third-wicket alliance, but the pace-spin combination of Mustafizur Rahman and Miraz rocked Afghanistan with two wickets in five balls.
Miraz was the first to come to the party. Shahidi, who was struggling to force pace against spinners, finally went for a desperate big shot off the off-spinner that was snaffled by Towhid Hridoy at mid-on.
Gurbaz too soon departed as his attempt to clear Rahman ended in the hands of Tanzid Hasan in the deep.
From that point, the Afghans slipped into a panic mode, and lost wickets at regular intervals as Bangladesh bowlers mounted pressure on them with a tidy spell.
Shakib, the Bangladesh captain, who elected to field first, led the bowlers from the front with an impeccable show of spin bowling.
Match: World Cup 2023, 3rd Match
Venue: Dharamsala | Date: October 07, 2023
