Bangladesh kept their hopes of reaching the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2023 alive as they registered an 89-run win over Afghanistan in their second fixture thanks to tons from Mehdiy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday.
With Mehidy retiring hurt on a 119-ball 112, his second ODI ton, and Shanto making 104 off 105 balls, his second as well, the three-time runner-ups managed to propel themselves to a respectable 334-5 in the do-or-die encounter.
This was the Tigers’ third-highest total in ODI cricket, and their highest away from home.
However, chasing down the mammoth total, the Afghans could only manage 245, courtesy of four wickets from Taskin Ahmed, alongside three wickets for Shoriful Islam.
Opting to bat first, Bangladesh openers Mohammad Naim and Mehidy made a decent start as they added 60 before the former was knocked over by Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman for 28.
Towhid Hridoy, who was promoted to No. 3, was cut for his first duck in ODIs, leaving the onus on Mehidy and Shanto, who responded brilliantly.
Mehidy, sent to the opening slot as a makeshift, repaid the faith with a career-best, pummeling seven fours and three sixes before retiring hurt, while Shanto continued his rich vein of form and smashed nine fours and two sixes prior to his dismissal.
The duo shared a 194-run stand, the second-highest for Bangladesh for the third wicket, which was broken after Mehidy retired.
Following the exclusion of Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim stepped up to score a quick-fire 15-ball 25, before he was run out. Debutant Shamim also faced the same fate after scoring 11 off six balls.
Skipper Shakib Al Hasan then led the charge, as he smacked an undefeated 18-ball-32, helping Bangladesh manage their third highest in the one-day internationals.
Chasing down the mammoth total, Afghanistan made a wobbly start as they lost opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for one to Shoriful in the second over.
However, they fought back as Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmant Shah formed a 78-run partnership before the latter was removed for 33 by Taskin Ahmed.
Despite losing his partner, Ibrahim bagged his third ODI fifty before getting out on 75 off 74 balls, courtesy of a brilliant catch from Mushfiq behind the stumps off Hasan Mahmud’s bowling.
Afghan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi then took the charge and added a quick-fire 62 off 52 balls partnership with Nazibullah Zadran, giving the Afghans some hope. However, it was ruined by Mehidy as he dismissed the latter for 17 and the former also fell to Shoriful in the next over.
Bangladesh bowlers’ continued their raging attack to bundle out the Afghans for 245 in 44.3 overs.
