Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, 3rd Match, ICC Cricket World Cup: Mehidy Hasan stars in Bangladesh's opening win

The third match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 saw Bangladesh and Afghanistan taking on each other at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. The Shakib Al Hasan-led side dominated the game with both bat and ball and kick-started the tournament on a high. After opting to field first, they bundled out Afghanistan for just 156 runs and then chased the target with six wickets to spare inside 35 overs.

Afghanistan were off to a decent start as Rahmanullah Gurbaz (47:62b, 4x1, 1x6) and Ibrahim Zadran (22:25b, 3x4, 1x6) added 47 runs for the opening stand. After that Rahmat Shah tried to build the innings but couldn’t. Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi added a few runs but too perished early. This paved the way for collapse as Bangladesh bowlers, in particular spinners, ran through the Afghanistan batting line-up and bundled them out for just 156 runs. Shakib AL Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked three wickets each whereas other bowlers also chipped in at regular intervals.

Afghanistan didn’t take things easy at the start as they picked two quick wickets of Bangladesh in Tanzid Hasan and Litton Das. Najmul Hossain Shanto (59 n.o.: 83b, 3x4, 1x6) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (57:73b, 5x4) took their time and slowly ticked the scorecard with their 97 runs partnership for the third wicket. Shakib Al Hasan (14:19b, 4x2) played a vital hand before getting out. Bangladesh completed a comfortable six-wicket win. 

Mehidy Hasan Miraz starred with bat and ball to take the @aramco #POTM against Afghanistan ??#CWC23 | #BANvAFG pic.twitter.com/pqlQ9zvpb1

— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) October 7, 2023

Match Summary
Afghanistan: 156 (37.2)
Fall of wickets: 1-47 (Ibrahim Zadran-8.2 ov), 2-83 (Rahmat Shah-15.1 ov), 3-112 (Hashmatullah Shahidi-24.4 ov), 4-112 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz-25.2 ov), 5-122 (Najibullah Zadran-28.4 ov), 6-126 (Mohammad Nabi-29.6 ov), 7-150 (Rashid Khan-34.2 ov), 8-156 (Azmatullah Omarzai-35.2 ov), 9-156 (Mujeeb Ur Rahman-36.3 ov), 10-156 (Naveen-ul-Haq-37.2 ov)

Bangladesh: 158-4 (34.4)
Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Tanzid Hasan-4.1 ov), 2-27 (Litton Das-6.4 ov), 3-124 (Mehidy Hasan Miraz-28.1 ov), 4-146 (Shakib Al Hasan-33.3 ov)

SCORECARD     

Playing XI
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wicket-keeper), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Mohammad Nabi, Najibullah Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Mushfiqur Rahim (wicket-keeper), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

Match Details
Toss: Bangladesh, elected to field
Venue: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala
Start time: 0500 hrs GMT
Match officials: Joel Wilson, Kumar Dharmasena (On-field Umpires); Ahsan Raza (TV Umpire); Marais Erasmus (Reserve Umpire); Andy Pycroft (Match-referee)