Rahim was named Man of the Match for his knock of 71
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Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan and wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim both scored half-centuries to spoil Afghanistan’s World Cup debut.
Al Hasan and Rahim were well supported by captain Mashrafe Mortaza, who took three wickets as Bangladesh went on to crush Afghanistan by 105 runs in Canberra.
Mortaza would have been content with his decision to bat first after Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque amassed a 47-run partnership before Iqbal was caught behind off the bowling of Mirwais Ashraf for 19.
Haque went on to score 29 before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Ashraf.
Haque reviewed the decision right away, but replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to clip the stumps. This led to the third umpire upholding the original decision.
Soumya Sarkar and Mahmudullah stabilised the innings with a 50-run partnership before Sarkar was given out lbw off the bowling of Shapoor Zadran for 28.
Mahmudullah ended up making 23 before he was caught behind off the bowling of Shapoor Zadran.
Al Hasan and Rahim steadied the innings with a 114-run partnership, during which both batsmen brought up their half-centuries, before Al Hasan was clean bowled by Hamid Hassan for 63, which came off 51 balls and included six boundaries and a six.
Al Hasan hit six boundaries and a six during his innings of 63
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Sabbir Rahman only made three runs before he was cleaned up by Hassan.
Rahim ended up making 71 off 56 deliveries, which included six boundaries and a six, before he was caught by Samiullah Shenwari at deep midwicket off the bowling of Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi.
Following Rahim’s dismissal, Bangladesh’s lower order collapsed as they went from 247/7 to being bowled out for 267.
Hassan, Zadran, Ashraf and Aftab Alam picked up two wickets apiece, while Nabi chipped in with one.
Chasing 268 to win, Afghanistan got off to a horrible start as Javed Ahmadi, Afsar Zazai and Asghar Stanikzai were all dismissed in quick succession.
With Afghanistan struggling at 3/3, Nawroz Mangal and Shenwari stemmed the bleeding with a 62-run partnership before Mangal was brilliantly caught by Rubel Hossain at deep square leg off the bowling of Mahmudullah for 27.
Shenwari went on to make 42 runs before he was run out by Rahman.
Nabi and Najibullah Zadran steered Afghanistan’s innings back in the right direction with a 58-run partnership before Zadran was given out lbw off the bowling of Al Hasan for 17.
Zadran reviewed the decision immediately, but since the ball had just hit the batsman in line with the off stump, the third umpire decided to uphold the original decision .
Nabi ended up being Afghanistan’s top-scorer with 44 runs before he was caught by Sarkar at mid-off off the bowling of Mortaza.
Nabi made a gutsy 44
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Following Nabi’s dismissal, Afghanistan’s lower order crumbled as they went from 136/7 to being bowled out for 162.
Mortaza was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Al Hasan snapped up two and Hossain, Mahmudullah and Taskin Ahmed claimed one wicket each.
Mortaza finished with figures of 3-20 off nine overs
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Nabi was disappointed to have lost, and said: “First 35 overs we bowled well, especially the fast bowlers. Mushfiq and Shakib played very well and took the score to 260. We lost too many wickets early, but Nawroz and Sami batted well. Not a good start in the World Cup. We hope to play well in the next match. Thanks to the crowd and to the people back home.”
Mortaza was pleased with his team’s performance, and said: “Definitely the first match is important and we have set the tone. We had a reasonable start today. Mushy and Shakib were brilliant. That kind of match where you have some pressure [is good]. I am happy we adapted. And thank you to all the supporters.”
Rahim was named Man of the Match, and said: “It’s a great feeling. Credit also goes to openers. They didn’t get the runs, but it is not that easy up front. They faced out important overs. Thanks to the crowd. My father is here, my uncle is here, it is a great moment.”