Bangladesh overcame a spirited Afghanistan to get the new season off to a winning start, snatching a seven-run victory from the jaw of the defeat in the first ODI yesterday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. An Afghan third wicket record partnership of 144 runs left Bangladesh a perilous situation before Shakib Al Hasan produced a magical bowling performance to save the side from the ultimate shamble.
Shakib broke the dangerous third wicket partnership, shared by Rahmat Shah and Hasmatullah Shahidi to bring the side back to the game and thereafter conceded just one run in the crucial 47th over which changed the complexion of the game. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed utilized the pressure in smart fashion and grabbed four wickets on his comeback international match as Afghanistan were bowled out for 258 in reply of Bangladesh’s 265 all out in 50 overs.
Shakib who hit a sublime 40 ball-48, returned with the figures of 26 for two in 10 overs while the skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza also grabbed two but gave away 40 runs. With the two wickets, Shakib surpassed Abdur Razzak as the highest wicket-getter of Bangladesh.
Mohammad Shahzad gave

Afghanistan a perfect start before Mashrafe and Shakib shared two wickets in two overs to leave them 46 for two. However Shahidi and Shah left Bangladesh’s chance at stake with the historical partnership but lost the momentum at the death over to squander a golden chance.
Shahidi hit his career best 72 while Shah made 71. Shahzad contributed 31 and Mohammad Nabi scored 30.
Earlier, opener Tamim Iqbal hit a classy 80 as Bangladesh racked up a total that looked good to win the game. The inform Tamim helped Bangladesh recover a shaky start, sharing two significant partnerships that set the tune. While his 83 runs with Imrul Kayes settled the nerve after the dismissal of Soumya Sarkar in the first over, the 79 runs with Mahmudullah Riyad took Bangladesh a position of dominance.
Riyad smashed a stylish 62, using the platform set by Tamim. Shakib Al Hasan then took the Afghan bowlers in disdain with a typical 40 ball-48, taking Bangladesh in a position that looks good to win the match.
Afghan bowlers put a clinical bowling performance but denied by shoddy fielding and lost a good chance to bowl Bangladesh out a below par total. They at least shelled five catches, giving the Bangladesh batsmen to set them in the crease. Rashid Khan returned figures with two for 37, causing much difficulties to the Bangladesh batsmen, who historically have the shortcomings against quality leg-spinners.
The teen-ager Khan could have made casualties in Bangladesh innings when Tamim and Kayes were trying to recover the early loss of Soumya but denied by the fielders.
Nabi finally ended Kayes’s nervous vigil when he was on 37 but with Tamim was on flow, it was difficult for them to make any impact.
Medium pacer Ashraf however returned to his second spell to take the wicket of Tamim when he approached to his seventh century. However Tamim who sent the ball across the rope nine times, had to be contented with 33rd half-century.
Riayd struck five fours and two sixes in his 74 balls knock but his dismissal off Nabi who scalped two for 40, sparked a collapse. Rashid Khan took out Mushfiqur (6) and Sabbir Rahman (2) in quick space though the latter’s lbw decision looked dubious.
Shakib ran hard between the wickets and took a series of singles to tick the scoreboard when the Afghan bowlers were their best. His 40 ball-48 included three boundaries indeed helped Bangladesh propel past 250.

SCOREBOARD Ban v SA

Bangladesh innings:
Tamim c Naveen b Ashraf     80
Soumya c Shabir b Dawlat     0
I Kayes b Nabi     37
Mahmudullah c Ashraf b Nabi     62
Shakib c Najibullah b Dawlat     48
Mushfiqur b Rashid     6
Sabbir lbw b Rashid     2
Mashrafe c Rashid b Naveen     4
Taijul c Rahmat b Dawlat     11
Taskin b Dawlat     2
Rubel not out     1
Extras (b1, lb1, w10)     2
Total (all out, 50 overs)     265
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-84, 3-163, 4-203, 5-215, 6-227, 7-246, 8-254, 9-260, 10-265.
BOWLING    O    M    R    W
Dawlat    10    0    73    4
Naveen    10    0    62    1
Nabi    10    0    40    2
M Ashraf    10    0    51    1
Rashid    10    0    37    2
Afghanistan innings:
S Noori lbw b Shakib             9
M Shahzad c Mushfiqur b Mashrafe     31
Rahmat st Mushfiqur b Shakib     71
H Shahidi c Soumya b Taijul         72
M Nabi c Sabbir b Taskin             30
N Zadran c Mushfiqur b Mashrafe     7
A Stanikzai c Riyad b Taskin         10
Rashid b Rubel                 7
M Ashraf lbw b Taskin             3
D Zadran c Sabbir b Taskin         2
Naveen-ul  not  out                 4
Extras    (b 1, lb 2, w 13)             16
Total (all out; 50 overs)             258
Fall of wickets:1-46, 2-46, 3-190, 4-210, 5-230, 6-243, 7-245, 8-253, 9-255. 10-258.
BOWLING    O    M    R    W
 Mashrafe     10    0    42    2
Taskin     8    0    59    4
 Shakib     10    0    26    2
 Rubel     9    0    62    1
Taijul     10    0    44    1
M Riyad     3    0    22    0