AFG vs BAN Review: Afghanistan continue their poor World Cup record

Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz emerged as the heroes for Bangladesh, securing a stunning victory against Afghanistan in the third match of the Cricket World Cup 2023. Bangladesh clinched an easy victory by six wickets, chasing down a target of 157 with 94 balls to spare.

Opting to bowl first, Bangladesh’s spin duo of Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz wreaked havoc on the Afghan batting lineup. The Afghans crumbled under the pressure, managing only 156 runs in 37.2 overs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored with 47, but regular wickets stifled their progress.

However, it was Mehidy’s all-round brilliance that truly shone in Dharamsala. He claimed three crucial wickets for just 25 runs, while Shakib Al Hasan contributed with three wickets for 30 runs.

Facing adversity after losing their openers early, Bangladesh found their saviours in Mehidy and Shanto, who stitched together a crucial partnership of 97 runs for the fourth wicket. Mehidy contributed 57, and Shanto reached an unbeaten 59, sealing the victory with a boundary.

Top Performers of the Match

Najmul Hossain Shanto (59 of 83 balls): Shanto played a crucial role in leading Bangladesh to victory, scoring an impressive unbeaten 59 runs off 83 balls. Despite losing their openers early on, he stepped up and played a brilliant knock to guide his team to success.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz (3/25, 9 overs): Mehidy emerged as the standout bowler of the match. His classy off-spin bowling proved to be too much for the Afghan batters to handle. With figures of 3/25 in 9 overs, Mehidy bowled exceptionally well on a spin-friendly surface and was rightfully named the best bowler of the match.

What next?

Looking ahead, Afghanistan will face India on October 11, while Bangladesh will take on England on October 10.