Bangladesh beat Afghanistan by 89 runs

Hundreds from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto propelled Bangladesh qualify for the Super Four stage of the ongoing Asia Cup as they beat Afghanistan by 89 runs during their second and last Group B match at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday, reports Daily Sun.

Mehidy, who was promoted as an opener in the do-or-die contest for the Tigers, scored a career-best 112 off 119 balls while Shanto made 104 runs as Bangladesh posted a gigantic score of 334-5 against Afghanistan after they decided to bat first.

Bangladesh needed to restrict Afghanistan before the opposition’s reaching 279 runs to confirm their Super Four berth and their bowlers complemented their batsmen’s effort well by bowling the neighbouring side all out for 245 runs in 44.3 overs to complete a brilliant win.

Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi were the only batters who could cause panic in the Bangladesh dugout after they scored 75 and 51 runs respectively.

Bangladesh pacer duo Taskin Ahmed and Shorful Islam finished with 4-44 and 3-36 respectively.

Earlier, it was the Mehidy-Shanto show that powered Bangladesh to their highest Asia Cup total surpassing the previous highest total record of 326-3 against Pakistan in 2014.

Mehidy, who gave Bangladesh a decent 60-run start with Mohammad Naim (28), got Shanto – the cricketer with whom he played in the U-19 World Cup in 2016 – at the crease after the dismissal of Tawhid Hridoy (0).

The pair then put up a partnership of 194 runs for the third wicket to take their score over the 250-run mark before Mehidy, who by this time completed his second ODI ton with seven fours and three sixes, had to retire after injuring his left hand.

Shanto, who made a brilliant 89 runs against Sri Lanka in their tournament opener, completed his second ton after he smashed nine fours and two sixes but his innings was cut short after he was run out in the 45th over.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan carried on the good work with an 18-ball 32 not out that was spiced with four boundaries and a six and it helped them post their highest ODI score against Afghanistan.

Debutant Shamim Hossain also contributed 11 off six balls while Mushfiqur Rahim scored 15-ball 25.

Pacer Shoriful gave Bangladesh an early breakthrough after he removed Rahmanullah Gurbaz (one) in the second over before Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah (33) put up a 78-run stand to bring them back in the contest.

Taskin got rid of Rahmat but Ibrahim and Shahidi rebuilt the innings for Afghanistan by adding 52 runs for the third wicket.

Ibrahim was then dismissed by pacer Hasan Mahmud after Mushfiqur took a superb catch at the back. However, Afghanistan still reached 193-3 in the 36th over and the game was all set for an exciting finish.

But Afghanistan started to lose wickets one by one from the 37th over and their last seven wickets fell for just 52 runs that saw them finishing the game with a big defeat at the end.

Shakib took the catch of Afghanistan’s last wicket Rashid Khan (24), who had a poor outing with the ball on the day (0-66 in 10 overs) of Taskin’s bowling to confirm Bangladesh’s brilliant comeback in the tournament after their first match defeat that also saw their qualifying for the Super four.

Mehidy was adjudged player of the match for his outstanding performances (112 runs and 1-41) in the game.

Afghanistan still have the chance to qualify for Super Four but they need to beat Sri Lanka by a big margin in the last Group B game at the same venue on Tuesday.

Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul