Bangladesh-Team. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP) (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)
Magnificent centuries from Mehidy Hasan Miraz (112*) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (104) followed by four wickets from Taskin Ahmed and three wickets from Shoriful Islam helped Bangladesh beat Afghanistan by 89 runs in the fourth match of the Asia Cup 2023.
Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first. Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck early for Afghanistan, dismissing Mohammad Naim for 28 runs. Towhid Hridoy was then dismissed for a duck, but Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz rescued the innings with a 194-run partnership. Shanto scored a magnificent century before being run out for 104, while Miraz made 112 before retiring hurt. Mushfiqur Rahim contributed 25 off 15 balls, and Shakib Al Hasan remained unbeaten on 32 as Bangladesh posted a total of 334/5 in 50 overs.
In response to Bangladesh’s total of 334, Afghanistan got off to a poor start, losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for just one run. Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmat Shah put on a 78-run partnership for the second wicket, but Shah was dismissed by Taskin Ahmed for 33 runs. Zadran kept the scoreboard ticking and scored a patient 75 runs off 74 balls, while Hashmatullah Shahidi smashed 51 runs off 60 balls. However, the rest of the batters failed to contribute, and Afghanistan were bowled out for 245. Bangladesh eventually won the match by 89 runs.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz was awarded the Player of the Match award for his outstanding performance with the bat and ball. He scored 112 runs, the highest score of the match, and took one wicket for 41 runs. His all-round contribution was instrumental in Bangladesh’s victory.
Here are some important stats and numbers from the 4th match of Asia Cup 2023 played between Bangladesh and Afghanistan
194* –The pair of Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan registered the highest partnership for Bangladesh for any wicket in the Asia Cup, with 194*, followed by Imrul Kayes and Junaid Siddique with 160 against Pakistan in 2010, and Imrul Kayes and Anamul Haque with 150 against Pakistan in 2014.
112* – Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s 112* is his highest ODI score, and his previous highest score was 100 against India in 2022.
334/5 – Bangladesh’s 334/5 is their highest total in the Asia Cup, followed by 326/3 against Pakistan in 2014 at Mirpur and 300/8 against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2008 at Lahore.
1005 – Mehidy Hasan Miraz completes 1000 runs in ODIs
104 – Najmul Hossain Shanto’s 104 is his second-highest ODI score, and his highest score was 117 against Ireland at Chelmsford in 2023
194* – The pair of Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan registered the third-highest partnership for any wicket in Lahore in ODIs. The highest was 213*, scored by Aravinda de Silva and Sanath Jayasuriya against Pakistan in 1997. The second highest was 201, scored by Haris Sohail and Shoaib Malik against Zimbabwe in 2015.
3 – Mehidy Hasan Miraz (112*) became the third Bangladesh opener to score a century in the Asia Cup. In addition to Miraz, Litton Das and Anamul Haque have also scored centuries in the Asia Cup.
1- This is the first instance of two centurions for Bangladesh (Najmul Hossain Shanto & Mehidy Hasan Miraz) in an innings of Asia Cup
144.00 – Mehidy Hasan Miraz, batting as an opener, scored 144 runs in two innings with an average of 144.00 and a strike rate of 80.89. He smashed one century
579 –The highest match aggregate involving teams Bangladesh and Afghanistan in ODIs is 579 runs, scored by both teams combined.
4/44 – Taskin Ahmed’s 4/44 is his third-best bowling figures in ODIs. His best bowling figures are 5/28, which he achieved against India at Mirpur in 2014.