ICC World Cup 2019 Match 31 Played at Southampton Rose Bowl
Bangladesh Vs Afghanistan
Brief Score Card
Bangladesh 262/7(Mushfiqur Rahim 83, Shakib Al Hasan 51, Tamim Iqbal 36, Mosaddek Hossian 35, Mahmudullah Riad 27, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3/39, Gulbadin Naib 2/56) beat Afghanistan 200 All Out in 47 Overs (Samiullah Sinwari 49, Gulbadin Naib 47, Rahmat Shah 24, Nazibullah Zadran 24, Asghar Afghan 20, Shakib Al Hasan 5/29, Mustafizur Rahman 2/32, Mosaddek Hossain 1/25, Mohammad Saifuddin 1/33) by 62 Runs
Player of the Match: Shakib Al Hasan
On a slow turning and gripping Rose Bowl wicket Bangladesh with well executed match strategy overwhelmed Afghanistan by 62 runs. Batting smartly against high quality spin attack of Mujeeb, Rashid, Nabi and the co Bangladesh scored an impressive 262/7.
Shakib led Bangladesh attack destroyed Afghan resistance bundling them out for 200. The win brightened Bangladesh prospect for a Semi Final berth with 7 points from 7 matches. They have must win matches against India and Pakistan. England which plays Australia in mini Ashes today at Lords has to loose two matches of their three. Afghanistan losing all seven matches are languishing at the bottom of the table.
It was milestone setting match for world’s number one all rounder. He is now the only second player in the history of cricket scoring a fifty (51) and taking five wickets (5/29) in the same match at World Cup. Indian great Yuvraj Singh is the only other person doing that at Bangaluru against Ireland in 2011 World Cup. Yuvraj followed up his 5/31 with unbeaten 50. This was Shakib’s first 5-wicket haul in World Cup. During this match, he became the only player in cricket history scoring over 1000 runs and taking 44 wickets. He is highest scorer in this world cup with 476 runs.
Afghanistan morale was sky high after restricting mighty India to 224 on the same surface and almost winning the match. Bangladesh plotted a plan to counter their quality spin attack and craftily executed.
Top Scorers of World Cup 2019 (June 25, 2019)
Shakib Al Hasan
476
David Warner
447
Joe Root
424
Aaron Flinch
396
Kane Williams
373
Shakib has scored 476 runs and taken 10 wickets in this World Cup in six games. No player had scored over 400 runs and taken 10 or more wickets previously in a World Cup. The best all-round World Cup performances include Lance Klusener's 281 runs and 17 wickets in 1999 World Cup and Yuvraj's 362 runs and 15 wickets in 2011. Shakib also became the first player in World Cup history to amass 1000-plus runs and take 30-plus wickets. He now has 1016 runs and 33 wickets in 27 World Cup games.
When looking back in retrospect Gulbadin Naib may repent for his decision of letting Bangladesh bat first after winning the toss. In this world cup no team has batted as consistently as Bangladesh did. They plotted a plan for batting against quality Afghan spinners. Liton K Das was paired with Tamim for a left hand right hand combination. Afghanistan started with their mystery spinner teenager Mujeeb. Liton was looking good till he became a victim of inconclusive out caught in the cover off Mujeeb. TV replay created some doubts whether the catch was cleanly taken. However, Tamim and Shakib curbing their flamboyance concentrated on milking the bowling taking singles and rotating the strikes. Tamim looked a little circumspect. He was cleaned up by Nabi after scoring 36.
Mushfiq and Shakib playing with patience added 61 runs for the third wicket before Shakib scoring yet another fifty in the world cup got out LBW to impressive Mujeeb delivering a carrom ball. Mushfiq went on his merry way. Soumya batting at five was also wrapped up by Mujeeb with a googley. Mahmudullah joined Mushfiq. He soon got his right calf injured which handicapped running between the wicket. Yet he stayed at the wicket defying paying and making valuable contribution. The fifth wicket partnership between Mushfiq and Mahmudullah produced 56 invaluable runs. Mushfiq plays sweep and reverse sweep as good as any batsman of the world. The match also witnessed few. Young Mosaddek returning from injury demonstrated his quality as an aggressive batsman contributing 35 in quick time. Bangladesh scored 262/7 before the allotted overs ran out. Mushfiq scoring 83 in 87 deliveries again demonstrated why he is termed Mr Dependable. Mujeeb (3/39) bowled exceedingly well. This boy bowls leg spin, top spin, carrom ball and Googley almost at the same action at faster pace. On a wicket assisting spin he can destroy at batting line up. Sky is his limit. Unfortunately Rashid Khan and Nabi could not give him right company on the day.
By the time Afghans came for response the wicket slowed down further. It was always anticipated that 262 is at least 40 runs too many for Afghans to chase. Mashrafe started the bowling with pace (himself and Mustafiz) instead of letting his spinners a crack with the new ball. Afghan openers Rahmat Shah and Gulbadin Naib survived. But Shakib coming to the attack immediately stuck removing Rahmat Shah. Afghans could hardly play him. Smart Shakib completely choked the Afghans. Meraj and Mosaddek turned their spin smartly. Afghans feel steadily behind run rate. Shakib returning to his second spell stuck double blow. Well set Gulbadin Naib was removed and it was followed with the prized scalp of experienced Mohammad Nabi. Afghans could not match with the master class of Shakib as he went on taking 5/29 in his allotted overs. Afghanistan could reach 200 before getting bundled out in the 47th over. Mustafiz (2/32), Mosaddeq 1/25 and Saifuddin 1/33 also contributed. Afghanistan does not have quality batsmen to follow up the good works of their world class spin bowlers.
Winning big Bangladesh kept their semi final dream alive. Bangladesh is now at 5th position in the points table with 7 points from 7 matches just behind England on 4th with 8 points from 6.
England plays Australia today. They have two more difficult matches against India and New Zealand. Bangladesh has matches against India and Pakistan. In this World Cup confident Bangladesh has already given impression that they can beat any team with a little bit of luck going their way.
Shakib has already rewritten few pages as all rounder in world cricket. He is by far the best performer in world cup 2019. He is being compared with great Sir GA Sobers, the all time great All Rounder of West Indies. Can this dream merchant carry Bangladesh to the pinnacle of success in this World Cup?
BDST: 0944 HRS, JUNE 25, 2019
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