245/10 (44.3)
CR : 5.51
334/5 (50.0)
CR : 6.68
Bangladesh won by 89 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Mehidy Hasan Miraz
1/41112(119)
10:44 PM IST and Local Time: Bangladesh keep their hopes alive in this Asia Cup with a thumping victory over Afghanistan in a do-or-die encounter. They win by 89 runs and grab their first and last points of the group stages.
Earlier in the match, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first on a batting paradise. Openers Mohammad Naim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz provided a good start, adding 60 runs for the first wicket. A couple of quick wickets put Afghanistan back in the game just around the 10th over.
Mehidy and Najmul Hossain Shanto batted brilliantly and adapted to the conditions very well. Both were at their absolute best smashing their respective centuries. The duo were involved in a massive third wicket partnership before Mehidy walked back to the pavilion, getting retired hurt. Mehidy scored 112 runs off 119 balls, while Shanto was brilliant for his 104 off 105 balls.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan played handy cameos in the fag end of the innings and pushed the score to 334/5 in 50 overs.
Shoriful Islam struck in the second over of the run chase by trapping Rahmanullah Gurbaz in front of the stumps. Rahmat Shah and Ibrahim Zadran added 78 runs for the second wicket but the former was struggling to get going. Taskin Ahmed knocked over Rahmat in his second spell before Zadran and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi involved in another 50+ partnership. Zadran was magnificent with his half-century but failed to play a big impactful knock for his side.
Shahidi, who was looking scratchy earlier in the innings, slowly took the aggressor's route and completed his fifty. Shahidi and Najibullah Zadran too added another 50+ stand but didn't quite match the required run rate. At one stage, Afghanistan were 193/3 but then lost wickets in clusters and were bundled out for 245 in 44.3 overs. Gulbadin Naib and Rashid Khan had some fun out in the middle but in the end, it was too big a mountain to climb for Afghanistan.
For Bangladesh, Taskin finished with figures of 8.3-0-44-4 and was the successful bowler. Shoriful Islam was also brilliant swinging and seaming the ball all the way in the innings and completed his night with figures of 9-1-36-3. Mehidy and Hasan Mahmud chipped in with a wicket each.
A win that Bangladesh very much needed and now they will sit and wait for the result of the match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
Stay tuned for the post match presentations!
Earlier in the match, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first on a batting paradise. Openers Mohammad Naim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz provided a good start, adding 60 runs for the first wicket. A couple of quick wickets put Afghanistan back in the game just around the 10th over.
Mehidy and Najmul Hossain Shanto batted brilliantly and adapted to the conditions very well. Both were at their absolute best smashing their respective centuries. The duo were involved in a massive third wicket partnership before Mehidy walked back to the pavilion, getting retired hurt. Mehidy scored 112 runs off 119 balls, while Shanto was brilliant for his 104 off 105 balls.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan played handy cameos in the fag end of the innings and pushed the score to 334/5 in 50 overs.
Shoriful Islam struck in the second over of the run chase by trapping Rahmanullah Gurbaz in front of the stumps. Rahmat Shah and Ibrahim Zadran added 78 runs for the second wicket but the former was struggling to get going. Taskin Ahmed knocked over Rahmat in his second spell before Zadran and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi involved in another 50+ partnership. Zadran was magnificent with his half-century but failed to play a big impactful knock for his side.
Shahidi, who was looking scratchy earlier in the innings, slowly took the aggressor's route and completed his fifty. Shahidi and Najibullah Zadran too added another 50+ stand but didn't quite match the required run rate. At one stage, Afghanistan were 193/3 but then lost wickets in clusters and were bundled out for 245 in 44.3 overs. Gulbadin Naib and Rashid Khan had some fun out in the middle but in the end, it was too big a mountain to climb for Afghanistan.
For Bangladesh, Taskin finished with figures of 8.3-0-44-4 and was the successful bowler. Shoriful Islam was also brilliant swinging and seaming the ball all the way in the innings and completed his night with figures of 9-1-36-3. Mehidy and Hasan Mahmud chipped in with a wicket each.
A win that Bangladesh very much needed and now they will sit and wait for the result of the match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
Stay tuned for the post match presentations!
Hashmatullah Shahidi (Afghanistan Captain): "I did know that it was too much runs on the board but still, it was chasable with the wicket that was good for batting. The outfield was quick as well. It was chasable after my and Najibullah's partnership, we gave away wickets to them.
At the beginning, their bowlers bowled really good. They didn't give easy ball to our batters. So we tried our best but I think, at the beginning, our run rate was very low and that's why the required rate picked up.
We need to improve in all the departs especially our fielding before we play against Sri Lanka. Today our bowling was not good enough. Hopefully, in the next game, our bowling and fielding get more better than today.
Yeah, because Lahore is near to our country and the fans were waiting for the game. Hopefully, they come and support us again. Thank you very much."
At the beginning, their bowlers bowled really good. They didn't give easy ball to our batters. So we tried our best but I think, at the beginning, our run rate was very low and that's why the required rate picked up.
We need to improve in all the departs especially our fielding before we play against Sri Lanka. Today our bowling was not good enough. Hopefully, in the next game, our bowling and fielding get more better than today.
Yeah, because Lahore is near to our country and the fans were waiting for the game. Hopefully, they come and support us again. Thank you very much."
Taskin Ahmed: "No, actually, the wicket was very good for batting. Nothing was supporting for the bowlers. I was always trying to mix my lengths up bowling a little fuller and at some times hard lengths as well. Sometimes back of length and at sometimes short balls. It was not easy for the bowlers. It was a good thing that I could do well on these kinds of surface and my confidence has boosted up after this performance.
You know, always the length is the key in any surface. So my strengths are always been length balls with some seam movements. The wicket was very flat today and I thought that bowling length balls only won't work and hence mixed my lengths up.
Shoriful started well and all of our bowlers bowled well today. Up front Miraz was brilliant today with the bat. He is not an opener but he batted really well. Overall, the performances have been satisfying for us. Yeah, we will watch the game between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan and hopefully, the result go our way (chuckles)."
You know, always the length is the key in any surface. So my strengths are always been length balls with some seam movements. The wicket was very flat today and I thought that bowling length balls only won't work and hence mixed my lengths up.
Shoriful started well and all of our bowlers bowled well today. Up front Miraz was brilliant today with the bat. He is not an opener but he batted really well. Overall, the performances have been satisfying for us. Yeah, we will watch the game between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan and hopefully, the result go our way (chuckles)."
Catch of the Match: Mushfiqur Rahim.
Most Sixes in the Match: Mehidy Hasan Miraz
Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh Captain): "Yes,I thought, we played all around good cricket. Starting from the toss, I thought, it was a good toss to win on this surface. Under extreme heated weather, it was not easy for the fielders to field for 50 overs and then come to bat. So I think, we are really luck to get the toss go our way and then the way Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz batted set the game for us. In the end, we finished it off very well.
No, every now and then, when he (Mehidy Hasan Miraz) got his chance up the order, he had proved himself. We always know that he had the ability and especially, against Afghanistan he has got good record and why not trying him on a good wicket. Luckily for us, the move to open with Mehidy paid off.
I think we executed our plans with the ball really well. All of the three fast bowlers bowled their hearts out. They have been bowling well for around 2-3 years now and they had another such day today. You know, they have kept on improving everyday and matches like these would get them a lot of confidence since it was not an easy wicket to bowl.
Yeah, I think, everyone will watch that game (Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan). We know that it is not in our control. We have tried our best. The things that we could control we have done. May be the first game was not for us. But tonight, we have played really well."
No, every now and then, when he (Mehidy Hasan Miraz) got his chance up the order, he had proved himself. We always know that he had the ability and especially, against Afghanistan he has got good record and why not trying him on a good wicket. Luckily for us, the move to open with Mehidy paid off.
I think we executed our plans with the ball really well. All of the three fast bowlers bowled their hearts out. They have been bowling well for around 2-3 years now and they had another such day today. You know, they have kept on improving everyday and matches like these would get them a lot of confidence since it was not an easy wicket to bowl.
Yeah, I think, everyone will watch that game (Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan). We know that it is not in our control. We have tried our best. The things that we could control we have done. May be the first game was not for us. But tonight, we have played really well."
Player of the Match: Mehidy Hasan Miraz
Mehidy Hasan Miraz: "I am really happy. Credit to the almighty first of all. My team management trusts me and that is why I think I played here (opening the batting).
I think it was an excellent wicket. When I went onto the crease, I saw the pitch and then saw the ball coming onto the bat very easily. I tried to rotate the strike in the early overs. After that I did well.
I think it was an excellent partnership with Shanto. He batted really well and has performed in back-to-back matches. He said to me to play my normal game, keep going and if I was tired also don't think much and keep rotating the strike.
Yeah, I did get a few cramps especially in the hands. They are okay now. It was very hot and I did get dry. Thank you very much."
I think it was an excellent wicket. When I went onto the crease, I saw the pitch and then saw the ball coming onto the bat very easily. I tried to rotate the strike in the early overs. After that I did well.
I think it was an excellent partnership with Shanto. He batted really well and has performed in back-to-back matches. He said to me to play my normal game, keep going and if I was tired also don't think much and keep rotating the strike.
Yeah, I did get a few cramps especially in the hands. They are okay now. It was very hot and I did get dry. Thank you very much."
So that is an end to our coverage. For now, it is me AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Arijit Kundu, who, alongside our scorer/analyst Zeeshan Naiyer brought you all the live-action of this mega clash from the Asia Cup 2023. We will meet again. Until then, it's cheers!