- By JE Sports Desk
- Sat, 07 Oct 2023 04:48 PM (IST)
- Source:REUTERS
All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored a half-century and took three wickets as Bangladesh got their Cricket World Cup campaign off to a solid start with a six-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Dharamsala on Saturday.
Having won the toss and elected to field, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan put his side in the driving seat by claiming three key wickets, while Mehidy (3-25) mopped up the tail. Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored for Afghanistan with 47.
Mehidy then played a significant part in Bangladesh's reply with 57 off 73 balls as the 2015 quarter-finalists chased down their target of 157 in 34.4 overs.
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Bangladesh's chase got off to a rocky start, with both openers departing early to leave them on 27-2. Mehidy's arrival steadied the ship, but the 25-year-old benefited from a touch of fortune when he was dropped by Najibullah Zadran on 16 runs.
Mehidy and Najmul Hossain Shanto (59 not out) combined for 97, and though Rahmat Shah pulled off a spectacular one-handed catch to end Mehidy's knock, the damage was done as Bangladesh eased to victory.
Earlier on Saturday, Afghanistan had a good start as Gurbaz put up fleeting stands with Ibrahim Zadran (22) and Rahmat (18), but Shakib tempted both Ibrahim and Rahmat into risky shots and a couple of wayward top edges ended the partnerships just as they began to look dangerous.
Despite losing two wickets, Afghanistan were in a strong position at 112/2 after 24 overs, but their hopes of building on that platform suffered a devastating blow as Hashmatullah Shahidi and Gurbaz were dismissed in quick succession.
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That sparked a middle-order collapse and Afghanistan lost their remaining six wickets for just 44 more runs to end on 156.
Bangladesh will next face the defending champions England at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday while Afghanistan will be up against the hosts India at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Wednesday, October 11.