Bangladesh sink Afghanistan to keep alive World Cup semi-final hopes

Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan (right) celebrates with teammate Mushfiqur Rahim (centre) after the dismissal of Afghanistan’s Najibullah Zadran (left) during the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, Southern England, 24 June – AFP

SOUTHAMPTON, AFP: Bangladesh boosted their bid to reach the World Cup semi-finals as Shakib Al Hasan’s superb all-round display inspired a 62-run win over Afghanistan yesterday. 

Shakib’s 51 laid the foundations for Bangladesh to score 262-7 and made him the leading run-scorer in this year’s World Cup. 

The 32-year-old then ripped through the Afghan batting line-up with his career-best ODI figures of 5-29 from 10 overs. 

Shakib is only the second player in World Cup history to take five wickets and hit a 50 in the same match after India’s Yuvraj Singh against Ireland in 2011. 

Bangladesh, winners against South Africa and the West Indies earlier in the tournament, are up to fifth place in the 10-team group stage. 

They sit one point behind fourth-placed England, who face Australia today, in the race to seal a semi-final berth via a top-four finish. 

Mashrafe Mortaza’s side play India and Pakistan in their final two group matches. 

Afghanistan became the first team to be eliminated after an agonising 11-run loss against India on Saturday, when Mohammed Shami’s final-over hat-trick denied them a famous upset. 

Gulbadin Naib’s team have lost all seven of their matches, leaving with two games to avoid finishing the tournament without a single point. 

Rahmat Shah and Gulbadin put on 49 for the first wicket, giving Afghanistan hope of a surprise win. 

But Shakib’s introduction brought the breakthrough as the spinner weaved his magic. 

Rahmat carelessly flicked a flatter delivery to Tamim Iqbal at mid-on and departed for 24.  Just 10 runs came from the next five overs and Hashmatullah Shahidi perished when he tried to accelerate, stumped by Mushfiqur Rahim off Mosaddek Hossain for 11. Bangladesh had victory in their sights after Shakib took two wickets in the space of four balls. 

Gulbadin was removed for 47 after driving low to Liton Das at short extra cover before Mohammad Nabi was bowled through the gate for a duck. Shakib became the first Bangladesh player to take five wickets in the World Cup when he had Najibullah Zadran stumped. 

Earlier, Shakib became the leading run scorer in this year’s World Cup so far as his side posted a solid score after being put into bat. 

Shakib’s 51 took him to 476 runs in the tournament, while Mushfiqur top-scored with 83 from 87 balls.