Bangladesh posted a thrilling seven-run win over Afghanistan in the first One Day International (ODI) match at the flood-lit Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday.
Electing to bat first, Bangladesh scored a fighting total of 265 off 50 overs and then dismissed Afghanistan for 258 off 50 overs.
Promising Taskin Ahmed with the help of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan played the key role to snatch the victory. Shakib Al Hasan was adjudged the Man of the Match for his all-round performance.
Taskin Ahmed captured four wickets for 59 runs while Shakib Al Hasan and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza grabbed two wickets each for 26 and 42 runs.
Bangladesh had an unlucky start as opener Soumya Sarkar (0) was caught at the mid-wicket by Shabir Noori off Dawlat Zadran when the hosts’ total was just one.
Then Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes repaired the damage contributing together 83 runs for the second wicket stand before Kayes was bowled out by Mohammad Nabi when the Tigers’ score was 84 for the loss of two wickets.
Dashing opener Tamim Iqbal was the top scorer for Bangladesh. He hit a superb 80. His 98-ball knock was studded with nine fours. It was Tamim’s 33rd ODI half century.
Tamim and Mahmudullah Riyad added together 79 runs for the third wicket partnership before Tamim was caught at the long-off by Naveen-ul-Haq off Mirwais Ashraf when the Tigers’ total was 163 for the loss of three wickets.
Mahmudullah Riyad notched up a marvelous 62. His 74-ball knock was laced with two over boundaries and five boundaries. It was Riyad’s 15th ODI half century.
After dismissal of Tamim, Mahmudullah Riyad and Shakib Al Hasan put on together 40 runs for the fourth wicket stand before Riyad was caught at the deep square leg by Mirwais Ashraf off Mohammed Nabi. Prolific all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was deprived from his 31st ODI half century for just two runs. He made 48 from 40 deliveries including three fours. He was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Najibullah Zadran off Dawlat Zadran when Bangladesh’s score was 246 for the loss of seven wickets.
Earlier, Rashid Khan dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim for just six runs and trapped leg before wicket Sabbir Rahman for two runs.
Opener Imrul Kayes scored 37 playing 53 deliveries with six shots across the ropes.
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (4), Taijul Islam (11) and Taskin Ahmed (2) failed to shine with the willow and Bangladesh’s innings came to an end when Taijul Islam was caught by Rahmat Shah off Dawlat Zadran.
Dawlat Zadran captured four wickets at the cost of 73 runs while Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi bagged a pair of wickets each for 37 and 40 runs respectively.
Besides, Mirwais Ashraf and Naveen-ul-Haq took one wicket each conceding 51 and 62 runs respectively.
Afghanistan made a modest start as Shabir Noori and Mohammad Shahzad, the two openers added together 46 runs before Mohammad Shahzad was caught behind by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim off Mashrafe Bin Mortaza.
Then Shabir Noori was trapped leg before wicket by Shakib Al Hasan when Afghanistan’s score was 46 for the loss of two wickets.
After dismissal of Shabir Noori, Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi helped their team from debacle adding together 144 runs for the third wicket partnership before Rahmat Shah was stumped out by Mushfiqur Rahim off Shakib Al Hasan when Afghanistan’s score was 190 for the loss of three wickets.
Rahmat Shah hit 71 from 93 balls featuring three sixes and two fours.
Then Hashmatullah Shahidi was caught by Soumya Sarkar off Taijul Islam when the tourists’ total was 210 for the loss of four wickets.
Shahidi made 72 from 110 balls with six fours.
Earlier, Mohammad Shahzad scored 31 off 24 balls including three fours.
Later, Najibullah Zadran (7) was caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim off Mashrafe Bin Mortaza when the visitors’ score was 230 for the loss of five wickets.
Then Mohammad Nabi was dismissed by Taskin Ahmed when Afghanistan’ s score was 243 for the loss of six wickets. Mohammad Nabi scored 30.
Taskin Ahmed removed Asghar Stanikzai for 10. Taskin Ahmed trapped leg before wicket Mirwais Ashraf for three runs.
After departure of Stanikzai, Rubel Hossain dismissed Rashid Khan for seven runs.
Afghanistan’s hope went into vapour when Taskin dismissed Dawlat Zadran for two runs in the last ball.
