Cricket Highlights, 04 Sep: Asia Cup 2023 (Match 04) – Bangladesh vs Afghanistan: Bangladesh confirmed the Super Four by defeating the Afghans.

Bangladesh vs Afghanistan (Match 04) – Highlights

Bangladesh needed to win by at least 55 runs to reach the Super Four. But Bangladesh won by a bigger margin than that. Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan by 89 runs on Sunday (September 3) at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. As a result, whatever the result of the next match between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh’s Super Four will not be obstructed.

Despite defeating the Afghans by a big margin, Bangladesh did not reach the top of the points table. Sri Lanka’s net run rate is higher than that of the Tigers even if they have won a match. However, it is not possible to get Bangladesh eliminated from its current position. The explanation for that is a bit complicated.

To knock out Bangladesh in Afghanistan’s last match, they need a net run rate of +0.374. Afghanistan’s net run rate is now -1.780. That means their net run rate in the next match should be 1.780 + 0.374 = 2.154. If the Lankans lose by such a big margin, their net run rate will go down to minus +0.951-2.154= -1.203. In that case, Sri Lanka will be excluded.

Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bat first yesterday. The two openers, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mohammad Naim dominated the Afghan bowlers from the beginning. They picked up 30 runs in the first three overs. Bangladesh kept the control of the match in their own hands even though the run rate gradually decreased. Bangladesh scored 50 runs in 8 overs. Bangladesh made 50 in the opening pair after seven matches.

In the tenth over, Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck the first blow in the Bangladesh camp. Naim took the path to the dressing room by scoring 28 runs from 32 balls. In the next over, Towhid Hridoy was caught at slip and got out for zero runs. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Miraz led the team firmly after losing two wickets quickly. Batting against one of the best spin attacks in the world, the duo made an impeccable partnership of 196 runs.

In the end, the pair was broken when Miraz left the field with pain in his hand. Miraz retired hurt after scoring 112 runs off 119 balls. He smashed 7 fours and 3 sixes in this amazing innings. After the departure of the partner, Shanto also returned quickly. He was run out after playing a great innings of 104 runs. His strike rate was 99.05 with 9 fours and 2 sixes.

Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan continued to guide the team towards a big score after the departure of Shanto and Miraz. Both played two crucial cameo innings. Mushfiq scored 25 runs off 15 balls before being run out. Captain Shakib left the field with an unbeaten 32 runs off 18 balls.

Shamim Hossain hit a six on the first ball of his ODI career. He was run out with 11 runs off 6 balls. Afif Hossain left the field with an unbeaten 4 runs off 3 balls.

Bangladesh started well while defending 335 runs. Shoriful Islam took the wicket of the fearsome batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the second over. But since then, Rahmat Shah and Ibrahim Zadran have batted responsibly. Ibrahim and Rahmat made a partnership of 78 runs for the second wicket. But whenever the duo was getting formidable, Taskin Ahmed gave the Tigers a breakthrough.

The right-handed pacer bowled Rahmat (33) to send him back to the pavilion. After that, Ibrahim made a partnership of 52 runs with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi. Ibrahim, who scored 75 runs, was slowly becoming a threat to the Bangladeshi bowlers. In the meantime, Hasan Mahmud came to the bowling and got rid of Ibrahim. The right-handed batsman hit 10 fours and one six in the innings of 74 balls.

The Afghans made a big pair in the next wicket as well. Hashmatullah made a partnership of 62 runs with Najibullah Zadran. The Afghans were well in the match till 36 overs. But then the Bangladeshi bowlers began to dominate. Taskin-Shoriful took control of the match by taking 4 wickets of Afghanistan within 25 balls.

Shoriful picked up two of the 4 wickets. He took the wickets of Hashmatullah and Gulbadin Naib. Nabi (3) was returned by Taskin. Miraz scalped the wicket of Najibullah (17).

At the end, Rashid (24) played a cameo innings, but when he was dismissed by Taskin, the Afghans’ innings ended. The right-handed pacer had also sent off Mujeeb to the dressing room. However, Taskin’s involvement was small in that. Mujeeb (4) was hit out by trying to send the ball out of the boundary.

Taskin snapped up the highest number of 4 wickets for Bangladesh. Shoriful got three wickets. Hasan and Miraz picked up one wicket each. Apart from this, Miraz was selected as the player of the match for his excellent performance with the bat and ball.

Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Scoreboard

Bangladesh – 334/5 (50.0)

Afghanistan – 245/10 (44.3)

Result – Bangladesh won by 89 runs

Player of the match – Mehidy Hasan Miraz

Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Playing Xis