World Cup 2023: Mehidy Hasan Miraz's all-round show helps Bangladesh begin campaign on solid note

Bangladesh have progressed beyond the group stage of the ICC World Cup just twice since making their debut in 1999, and are yet to go as far as the semi-finals.

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The Tigers, therefore, have a point to prove in the 13th edition of cricket’s showpiece event in India, that they aren’t quite the whipping boys that they used to be at one point, and can challenge the best of teams in the sport in this day and age. And no better way to prove that point than with a semi-final finish at the very least.

The Shakib Al-Hasan-led side did start off on the right note in their quest to go further than they have ever before with a commanding six-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Saturday’s double-header — the first of the ongoing tournament.

Bangladesh and Afghanistan have had quite an interesting bilateral rivalry in recent years that has been a lot more intense following the rapid rise of the Afghans, especially in the shortest format of the game. The Tigers, however, have had the wood over the Atalans in ICC events, having defeated them in all of their encounters in the ODI and T20 World Cups to date.

In what is arguably the most picturesque cricketing venue in the world alongside Cape Town’s Newlands, Bangladesh extended that undefeated run in ICC events against the Afghans with a clinical all-round display, a performance that will have ticked a lot of boxes for them.

Spinners halt Gurbaz

Afghanistan though, were well on their way to posting a competitive target on the board the way they were motoring along at one point. Afghan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran are fairly seasoned at the highest level, with the former having succeeded against some of the best bowlers in the business in the IPL.

After Bangladesh skipper Shakib won the toss and opted to field, it was Gurbaz who powered the Afghans to a positive start, stitching a 47-run opening stand with Zadran. Afghanistan soon were 83/1 at the 15th over with plenty of batting to come, and would have been fancying a competitive score in excess of 250 when superb spells from Shakib as well as from Mehidy Hasan Miraz changed the complexion of the match.

Shakib, who had broken the opening partnership by getting rid of Zadran, induced a thick leading edge off Rahmat Shah that resulted in a sitter for Litton Das at mid-off and snapped another partnership that was starting to worry the Bangladeshis. His two wickets marked the beginning of a Bangladeshi fightback after a poor start.

Mehidy, meanwhile, started his spell on a scratchy note by conceding five wides down the leg side in his second delivery and starting off with a nine-run over. The off-spinner however, would make a remarkable recovery after that start, conceding just five runs in his next five overs including two maidens as well as the wicket of Afghan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi, who ended up holing out to long on while attempting to break the shackles.

Gurbaz would perish the very next over, off a slower delivery from Mustafizur Rahman with Tanzid Hasan doing well to pull off an excellent running catch from deep cover. That proved to be the turning point, with Bangladesh getting rid of the set batter who could have caused plenty of damage in the backend of the innings provided he found the slightest bit of support from the other end.

“I was a bit cautious, the captain told me to bowl in the right areas. He told me to be consistent and to focus on my own performance so credit to the captain. I took it ball by ball and didn’t look at the runs. Wicket was turning a bit, I just tried to play straight,” Mehidy would reveal in the post-match presentation after accepting the ‘Player of the Match’ award.

Mehidy was taken off in the following over, and his figures at the end of a seven-over spell read 1/19 including two maidens. Though Shakib had more wickets at that point, it was Mehidy’s disciplined approach and ability to dry up the runs after the drinks interval that proved the game-changer.

2019 WC Bangladesh’s first man of the match: Shakib Al Hasan

2023 WC Bangladesh’s first man of the match: Mehidy Hasan

Living up to the expectations. ✨ #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/jjfiMlHhn7

— Saif Ahmed