ICC World Cup 2023 - 3rd Match 
Bangladesh VS Afghanistan Played at HPAC Stadium Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India on 7 October 2023 
Afghanistan 156 All Out in 37.2 Overs (Ramanullah Gurbaz 47, Ibrahim Gurbaz 22, Azmatullah Omarzai 22, Hasmatullah Shahidi 18, Rahmat Shah 18, Mehedi Hasan Miraj 3/25, Shakib Al Hasan 3/30, Shoriful Islam 2/34, Mustafizur Rahman 1/28, Taskin Ahmed 1/32)
Bangladesh 158/4 in 34.4 Overs (Nazmul Hossein Shanto 59*, Mehedi Hasan Miraj 57, Shakib Al Hasan 14) 
Bangladesh won by 6 Wickets with 92 balls to spare. Mehedi Hasan Miraj player of the match.

Like 2015 and 2019 World Cup Bangladesh launched its CWC 2023 mission with a thumping victory over Afghanistan by 6 wickets with 92 balls to spare. On the picturesque Stadium of Dharamshala (the highest international Cricket ground) Bangladesh winning the toss and putting Afghanistan to bat crashed them to 156 all out in 37.2 overs with sweet combination of excellent bowling and sharp fielding. 

Then tigers cruised across and over the target in 34.4 overs scoring 158/4. Shakib Al Hasan, the highest ranked all rounder in white ball cricket playing his 5th world led his team from the front bowling tight (3/30). Mehedi Hasan Miraj made major all-round contributions taking 3/25 with his penetrative spin bowling and scoring impressive 57 runs playing at number three. Bangladesh also fielded brilliantly. The dreams of adoring cricket admirers got widened with such a huge win over known opponents which they have met few times in the recent past.

Bangladesh won the toss and Shakib thought of chasing. The green top with had lot of bounce. But the run up of the bowlers and out field had lot of sand below bare (grass weeded out) surface. Afghan openers made steady start compiling 47 in the opening partnership as Taskin, Shoriful and Mustahfiz struggled a bit putting the balls in the right channel. Shakib introduced himself and immediately struck the purple match. Mustahfiz also started rocking. Afghan wickets started tumbling. Ran was dried up as Rahmat Shah (18 in 25 deliveries) and Hasmatullah Shahidi (18 in 38 deliveries) struggled in putting bat to the ball. Mehedi Miraj bowled very accurately proving a thorn for Afghan batsmen. Frustrated Ramanullah Gurbaz in desperate attempt to increase the tempo got himself out scoring 47. Bowling was so penetrative, and the fielding was so impressive that 5 Afghan wickets were blown away for 30 runs the last 4 for only 6. Mehedy Miraj (3/25) and Shakib (3/30) proved too hot to handle. Shoriful in his last spell took 2/34. Afghan innings crumbled getting wrapped up for 156 in 37.2 Overs.

Tanzid Hasan Tamim in his first CWC innings looked like a bundle of nerves. Litton Das also looked a bit nervy. A poor call for run by Litton had Junior Tamim run out at non striker’s end. Litton after playing and missing few times got himself out being played on. The intriguing problem of Bangladesh top order continued. Mehedy Miraj promoted to number three started unleashing. He was a bit lucky being dropped by butter fingered Afghan fielders at 16 and 22. But he went on playing brave strokes and with his good mate Nazmul Hossein Shanto added 97 runs in the 3rd wicket partnership. Miraj fell to a brilliant catch by Rahmat Shah off the bowling of Naveen ul Haq scoring yet another half century 57 to be exact in 73 deliveries. 

Shanto remained unbeaten scoring steady 59. Bangladesh not only won big by 6 wickets and reaching there by 34.4 overs also registered healthy run rate. Mehedy Hasan Miraj for brilliant all-round performance was adjudged player of the match. Bangladesh will play its next match against reigning champions England. Team tigers must sort out its opening partnership before they encounter strong English attack on bouncy Dharamshala wicket. Afghans batted and fielded pathetically poorly in known Indian condition which is their second home. 

BDST: 0718 HRS, OCT 08, 2023
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