Miraz, Shanto’s tons propel Bangladesh to 334/5 against Afghanistan

D.N. Singh September 3, 2023

1 minute read

Lahore, Sep 3 : Brilliant centuries by Mehidy Hasan Miraz abd Najmul Hossain Shanto, and an outstanding unbeaten partnership of 194 off 190 balls helped Bangladesh pile 334/5 in the fourth match of Asia Cup at Gaddafi Stadium here on Sunday.

Both batsmen notched up centuries during their stay at the crease, with Miraz securing his second ODI hundred, the first being against India in Bangladesh.

His century celebration was cut short as he retired hurt.

Both openers, Mohammad Naim Sheikh and Miraz set the stage on fire with an electrifying start to the innings.

Notably, it was the first time since 2018 that Miraz had opened the batting for Bangladesh in ODIs.

Bangladesh demonstrated their intent from the get-go, scoring a blazing 60 runs in the powerplay, marking their highest powerplay score against Afghanistan in ODIs. The opening duo set the tone, showcasing their aggressive batting prowess.

Despite the early dismissal of Sheikh, who contributed 28 runs off 32 balls, and the unfortunate exit of Mohammad Towhid Hridoy for a duck.

Mushfiqur Rahim played a crucial role in consolidating the innings with his brisk 25 runs off 15 balls. Skipper Shakib Al Hasan also contributed significantly, remaining unbeaten with 32 runs off 18 balls.

Debutant Shamim Hossain showcased his prowess from his very first ball in ODIs, smashing a six off a length delivery over backward square leg and accumulating 11 runs off just 6 balls.

In response to Bangladesh’s formidable target, Afghanistan’s bowlers faced a challenging task. Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and Rashid Khan struggled to contain the Bangladeshi batsmen.

Afghanistan now faces the daunting task of chasing down 335 runs to win the match, a target that promises an enthralling contest between bat and ball.

Bangladesh’s remarkable batting display and Afghanistan’s challenging chase set the stage for an exciting match, leaving cricket fans eagerly awaiting the outcome of this gripping encounter.