Southampton, Jun 24 (UNI) Wicketkeeper batsman Mushfiqur Rahim 83 off 87 (4 fours, 1 six) Shakib Al Hasan 51 off 69, Tamim Iqbal 36 took Bangladesh score to 262/7 in 50 overs against Afghanistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup on Monday.
Shakib Al Hasan continuing his impressive run scoring ability of (75) South Africa, (64) New Zealand, (121) England, (124) West Indies and another brilliant half century 51 against Afghanistan in 28th over also became the first Bangladesh batsman to pass 1,000 career World Cup runs and 19th man to reach the landmark overall.
Earlier Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bowl put in Bangladesh to bat with opening pair Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal giving a steady start with 23 runs for first wicket.
However, Liton Das who had scored 94 off 69 against Windies could not repeat his momentum in this match and went down in the 5th over when caught by Hashmatullah Shahidi in Mujeeb Ur Rahman's spell. Liton 16 came in 17 balls (2 fours).
With Liton's exit Shakib Al Hasan came and along with Tamim Iqbal played 59 run stand for second wicket. Tamim looked settled at the crease and was playing sensibly, and was heading towards half century, but his stay was cut short when Mohammad Nabi grabbed his wicket in 16th over. Tamim 36 off 53 (4 fours). Bangladesh second wicket fell at 82.
Meanwhile, in 21st over of third ball 100 partnership came between Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.
After Tamim's ouster Mushfiqur Rahim along with Shakib Al Hasan went on to take score to 61 run for third wicket.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman gave a big breakthrough in 30th over picking his second wicket lbw Shakib Al Hasan who was slowly heading towards another century. Shakib 51 off 69 (1 four).
The partnership for fourth wicket between Mushfiqur and Soumya Sarkar failed to make an impact adding just 8 runs.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman scalped his third wicket lbw Soumya Sarkar in 32nd over with Bangladesh losing its 4th wicket at 151.
With Soumya back in the pavillion Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur went on to play another good innings putting 56 runs for fifth wicket. But then the partnership was broken when Gulbadin Naib took wicket of Mahmudullah in 43rd over. Mahmudullah scored 27 off 38 balls (2 fours).
However, with wickets going down Mushfiqur kept his cool and continued the flow of runs along with Mosaddek Hossain chipping in 44 runs for 6th wicket. Then Mushfiqur went down in Dawlat Zadran's spell in 49th over when caught at extra cover by Nabi. Mushfiqur's innings ended with 83 off 87 balls (4 fours,1 six).
Bangladesh lost its seventh wicket in the last ball of the final over of Mosaddek Hossain picked by Gulbadin Naib. Mosaddek Hossain scored 35 off 24 balls (4 fours).
Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3/39, Gulbadin Naib 2/56, Mohammad Nabi 1/44, Dawlat Zadran 1/64 were the wicket takers for Afghanistan.
UNI XC NC1905