Bangladesh got their Cricket World Cup campaign off to a good start after clinching a convincing six-wicket win over Afghanistan in Dharmsala on Saturday.

Afghanistan was limited to 156 runs after being bowled out by the off-spinner, who took 3-25.

Bangladesh won with more than 15 overs to spare after Mehidy made 57 after being dropped twice. Nojmul Hossain Shanto finished with 59 not out as well.

Shakib Al Hasan, the captain of Bangladesh, did more damage to Afghanistan in this World Cup match. The left-arm spinner took 3-30, and his bowling changes led to wickets.

Afghanistan was in a pretty good spot at 47-1 and 112-2 when Shakib put them in to bat, but they lost their last eight wickets for 44 runs.

Shakib made the first breakthrough on Saturday when he caught Ibrahim Zadran on the sweep. In the corresponding World Cup match four years ago, Bangladesh won by 62 runs with Shakib taking 5-29.

Many of Afghanistan’s batsmen lost their wickets, with only opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz (47) putting up much of a fight.

Gurbaz, who scored 145 in a one-day international against Bangladesh in July, fell when he holed out off paceman Mustafizur Rahman to Tanzid Hasan in the covers. He seemed angry that the other team wasn’t helping him, so he did this.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Afghanistan’s tailender, went out to bat without a box or athletic protector on, which said it all.

Bangladesh had a rough start to their chase.

Najibullah Zadran ran out Tanzid Hasan, and the Tigers were already 27-2 when Liton Das passed the ball to Fazalhaq Farooqi, who was a fast bowler.

When Afghanistan was defending such a low score, they had to take every chance. On 12, Najibullah dropped Mehidy when he dropped a legal catch at backward point.

Unfortunately, Mehidy missed another chance on 23 when he lifted Naveen-ul-Haq, but Mujeeb dropped a one-handed catch at deep third man when he could have gone for the ball with both hands.

Mehidy punished them by hitting four fours in 58 balls to make fifty.

After a long review, Mujeeb made a close lbw appeal, but he was caught brilliantly by a leaping Rahmat Shah at mid-off, ending a third-wicket partnership of 97.

Nevertheless, Bangladesh was close to winning by that time.

Najmul made an 80-ball fifty after hitting Mujeeb for six.

He ended the game with two fours, the second coming after a fumble at mid-off. He is having a great year in 2023, averaging almost 55 in ODIs.

Photo by EPA/RAHAT DAR