Bangladesh etch landmarks against Afghanistan to keep Asia Cup hopes alive

A number of records were created during the Bangladesh-Afghanistan encounter at Lahore in Group B of the Asia Cup 2023.

In a must-win game for Bangladesh, the Tigers turned up with the bat and ball to register a comfortable 89-run win over Afghanistan in Lahore.

The fate of Group B now rests on the result of the final game between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan to be played on 5 September.

Bangladesh posted a mammoth 334/5 on the back of centuries from Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto. 

In reply, Afghanistan’s chase never really took off with Shoriful Islam striking early to remove the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Ibrahim Zadran (75), Rahmat Shah (33) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (51) all made vital contributions but some tight bowling from Bangladesh meant the required run rate kept climbing up. 

Bangladesh recorded the highest partnership for Bangladesh in the Asia Cup. Their previous best was a 160-run stand between Imrul Kayes and Junaid Siddique against Pakistan in 2010. 

Both the batters hit their second ODI hundreds in this innings. Mehidy eventually retired hurt for 112* while Shanto too fell for a well-made 104 soon after. 

It was Bangladesh’s third-highest total in ODI cricket and their highest against an Asian team.