Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan struck once again, and in a similar fashion, in their World Cup 2023 opener against Afghanistan in Dharamshala today.
Following the drinks break, Shakib produced the goods with the ball in hand once again. Rahmat Shah went for a sweep and miscued it, getting a top edge and safely in the hands of Liton Das in the inner circle.
Shakib also had removed in-form opener Ibrahim Zadran in similar fashion as he also top edged while trying to sweep a Shakib delivery in the ninth over. Rahmat and Gurbaz were looking good for Afghanistan, stitching together a 36-run stand for the second wicket before Shakib changed the momentum with the wicket of the former.
Skipper Shakib Al Hasan gave Bangladesh a much-needed breakthrough after Afghanistan openers got off to a solid start in the two sides' World Cup 2023 opener in Dharamshala today.
Shakib removed in-form Ibrahim Zadran in the ninth over when the right-handed batter went for a sweep but only managed to get a top edge to the fielder at deep square leg. Zadran had to go after a 25-ball 22, laced with three boundaries and a maximum.
Before the wicket, Afghanistan had gotten off to a good start. They scored 48 for one after nine overs.
Afghanistan openers have had little to no difficulty in negotiating the initial overs as they got off to a smooth start in their World Cup 2023 opener against familiar foes Bangladesh in Dharamshala today.
The pitch condition and the small square boundaries at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium have only aided the two in-form Afghan openers.
Bangladesh openers Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam have got the ball to move but anything pitched even a little bit wide, both Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz have pounced on those and dispatched them for boundaries.
Zadran picked up a short delivery from Taskin with ease, sending it sail over the square leg for the first six of the game in the fifth over.
That saw Bangladesh bring in change in the bowling line-up, with Mustafizur Rahman coming in to bowl the next over before skipper Shakib Al Hasan introduced himself in the seventh over of the game.
