All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, with a half-century and a five-wicket haul came up with an inspirational performance and helped his team Bangladesh to register a 62-run win over Afghanistan in a well-contested match in the ICC World Cup 2019 encounter at Southampton and kept their semi-final hopes alive with this win.

Shakib Al Hasan becomes the second cricketer in the history to achieve the feat of scoring a half century and taking five-wickets in a World Cup match.

Bangladesh post decent total

Put into bat, Bangladesh lost opener Liton Das (16) early (23 for one). Opener Tamim Iqbal 36 (52b, 4×4) and Shakib Al Hasan 51 (69b,1×4) added 59-runs for the second wicket. After the fall of Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan and M. Rahim (83, 87b, 4×4, 1×6) added 61-vital runs for the third wicket.

Mahmudullah 27 (38b, 2×4) and Mosaddek Hossain 35 (25b, 4×4) scored useful runs and in Mushfiqur Rahim’s company boosted the total and Bangladesh went on to post a decent score of 262 for seven in 50 overs. Mujeeb Ur Rahman impressed by taking three for 39 and was well-supported by Gulbadin Naib who took two for 56.

Afghanistan falter after good start

Afghanistan got off to a good start with their opening pair of Gulbadin Naib 47 (75b, 3×4) and Rahmat Shah 24 (35b, 3×4) put on 49-runs for the opening wicket. Wickets fell at regular intervals after the dismiss of Rahmat Shah and Afghanistan were reduced to 117 for five at one stage.

Left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan bowled with lot of skill and struck vital blows to make inroads in the Afghanistan batting line-up. Shakib bowled intelligently to pick up five for 33.

Asghar Afghan (20), Najibullah (23) and Samiullah Shinwani (49 n.o.) were the other contributors with the bat for Afghanistan, but it was not possible for them to cross the line. Afghanistan were bowled out for 200 in 47 overs.

Scores

Bangladesh: 262 for 7 in 50 overs (Tamim Iqbal 36, Shakib Al Hasan 51, Mushfiqur Rahim 83, Mahmudullah 27, Mosaddek Hossain 35, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3 for 39, Gulbadin Naib 2 for 56) bt Afghanistan: 200 in 47 overs (Gulbadin Naib 47, Rahmat Shah 24, Shinwari 49 n.o.,  Najibullah 23, Shakib Al Hasan 5 for 29), Mustafizur Rahman 2 for 32); Player of the Match: Shakib Al Hasan.