Watch: Bangladesh beat Afghanistan by 89 runs in Match four of the 2023 Asia Cup in Lahore on September 3, and have all but secured their place in the Super Fours of the tournament.
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After a low-scoring game in Pallekele where they ended up on the losing side against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh were up against Afghanistan in a must-win encounter in Lahore. They batted first once again and were significantly better. The good batting conditions on offer also helped as compared to the slow surface in Pallekele where run-scoring was difficult.
In a change of tactics, Bangladesh opened with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, replacing Tanzid Hasan with debutant Shamim Hossain who batted at No.6. Mehidy repaid the faith shown in him by scoring his second ODI hundred, and his first as an opener. Najmul Hossain Shanto, meanwhile, carried his good form and partnered with Mehidy to register the second-highest third-wicket partnership for Bangladesh in ODIs. In the process, he scored his second ODI hundred as well.
Important and quick cameos from the middle-order propelled Bangladesh to 334-5, their third-highest ODI total ever. Afghanistan had a stiff target on their hands and they didn’t start particularly well.
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Rahmanullah Gurbaz, one of their key batters, was prized out by left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam with a sharp inswinger that trapped the former in front of the wicket. Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah offered resistance, adding 78 runs for the second wicket before the latter was bowled attempting an ugly slog off the bowling of Taskin Ahmed.
Another couple of half-century partnerships followed for Afghanistan. Zadran scored 75 off 74 balls, while their captain Hashmatullah Shahidi scored 51 off 60 batting at No.4.
At 193-3 after 36 overs, Afghanistan would have fancied their chances with big hitters like Mohammad Nabi, Gulabin Naib, and Rashid Khan still to come. But two quick wickets followed and Afghanistan lost the plot.
Rashid entertained for a brief while, hitting three fours and a six in a 15-ball cameo of 24, but it was nowhere near enough. Taskin Ahmed picked 4-44 and Shoriful finished with 3-36. Afghanistan were bowled out for 245, handing Bangladesh an 89-run victory.
With this, Bangladesh have secured a berth in the Super Fours as no matter what the result of the Afghanistan-Sri Lanka match is, they won’t drop down to the third spot in the table.
