Mushfiq guides Tigers to 262 against Afghanistan
Bangladesh posted a challenging 262 for seven in their must-win game against Afghanistan in a group match of the ICC World Cup on a slow track at the Hampshire Bowl on Monday. Wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim top scored for his side with 83, while Shakib Al Hasan (51) registered his fifth 50-plus score in six innings to reclaim his position as the tournament's leading scorer.
The all-rounder also reached another milestone as he became the first Bangladeshi batsman to score 1000 runs in World Cup cricket. Off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the pick of the Afghan bowlers claiming 3-39 as his team chase their first victory of the tournament after six defeats in a row. Bangladesh’s 262 is the highest team total at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, in this World Cup. Along the way, Bangladesh surpassed India’s 230 that they scored against South Africa on June 5.
As of filing this report at 8:30pm, Afghanistan scored 41 without losing any wicket after 8.5 overs. Gulbadin was batting on 12 while Rahmat was on the crease at 20. Earlier, Afghanistan captain won the toss and sent Bangladesh to bat first. In this match, the team management of the Tigers sent Liton Das to open the innings with Tamim Iqbal. The right-handed batsman hit two fours but failed to maintain the start.
He fell as the first batsman while playing Mujeeb Ur Rahman who ended up being to be the best bowler of Afghanistan taking three wickets conceding 39 runs in 10 overs. Along with Liton, he grabbed the wickets of Shakib and Soumya Sarkar as well. Despite losing early wicket, Shakib and Tamim added 59 runs in the second wicket stand which helped the Tigers repair the early damage. Tamim fell for 36 off 53 balls. The southpaw misjudged the ball of Mohammad Nabi which shattered his stumps.
In the third wicket stand, Shakib and Mushfiqur added 61 runs which helped them complete 3000 runs in ODIs in the partnerships comprising only both of them. Along the way, Shakib surpassed David Warner’s 447 to become the most run scorer in this World Cup so far. After today’s innings, Shakib has now 476 runs with two hundred and three fifties.
Bangladesh included Mohammad Saifuddin and Mosaddek Hossain, who missed the previous game due to injuries, in place of Rubel Hossain and Sabbir Rahman. Afghanistan, on the other hand, also made two changes to their playing XI adding Dawlat Zadran and Samiullah Shenwari to replace Hazratullah Zazai and Aftab Alam. Bangladesh have two wins from six matches, which also includes a washed out game against Sri Lanka.
