Bangladesh 244 for 8 (Mahmudullah 98, Mehidy 66, Omarzai 4-37) vs Afghanistan
It was a brand-new pitch in Sharjah, and supposed to support batting. Stand-in captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, playing his 100th ODI, opted to bat first. But when it came to himself, consumed 106 balls to reach his half-century - Bangladesh's slowest in the format since 2005. Mahmudullah, at the other end, almost seemed to bat on another pitch, as he scored a run-a-ball 98. Bangladesh's fifth-wicket pair added 155, on the way rescuing them from 72 for 4 in the 15th over and setting the platform for their total of 244 after 50.
The pitch was one where the ball gripped and turned as the innings progressed. There was swing up front too. So much so, that after eight overs, Fazalhaq Farooqi had given away eight runs off wides. And by then, Tanzid Hasan and Soumya Sarkar, the Bangladesh openers, had notched up 49.
Afghanistan had also been erratic enough to drop Tanzid twice - first on 0 by Gulbadin Naib off Farooqi, and then on 7, by Hashmatullah Shahidi off AM Ghazanfar. But bowling his second over - and the ninth of the innings - Azmatullah Omarzai had Soumya chopping on for 24 at just better than a run a ball.
That seemed to flick a switch. Mohammad Nabi, bowling the tenth over, had Tanzid slicing to cover point for 19 off a slow and dipping ball, Mehidy, in the 11th, sent Zakir Hasan back after calling for a run, only to result in Zakir's dismissal on 4, and Rashid Khan, in the 15th, had Towhid Hridoy caught at slip for 7. Bangladesh lost 4 for 19 in a period of six overs when Mehidy and Mahmudullah joined hands.
They took their time to settle, even as Rashid and Nangeyalia Kharote controlled the game after the powerplay. Mehidy and Mahmudullah managed to add only 49 runs off the first 74 balls of their partnership, as the scoring seemed to have dried up. Three boundaries came during that period, two were off the outside edge of Mehidy's bat.
But while Mehidy struggled to get even the singles or find the gap, Mahmudullah looked a lot steadier. With Afghanistan keeping a lid on Bangladesh, Mahmudullah hit the first six of the innings when Nabi tossed one up at him, and he skipped down to deposit the ball over midwicket to end the 35th over. Those hits remained sporadic as Nabi even bowled a maiden over in the 39th.
The last ten overs, however, brought Bangladesh 78 runs. It all started when Mahmudullah ended Nabi's spell ended with another six to finish the 41st over. In the next, Mahmudullah carved Ghazanfar for four through extra cover. He started the 44th with another boundary - this time over Ghazanfar's head - before nailing a sweep off Rashid to propel Bangladesh forward.
Seeing that, Mehidy had a change of heart too. With five overs left, he lapped and reverse scooped Omarzai for consecutive boundaries, although perished in the same over when he skied one to extra cover. With Bangladesh at 217 and only 24 balls left, it was down to Mahmudullah to provide the finishing touches; and the double fortune he enjoyed in the 47th over was just what Bangladesh needed for a competitive total.
Mahmudullah was given out lbw off Rashid to start the over, but used the DRS to overturn the decision. Two legal balls later, he drove back hard at Rashid, who dropped a difficult catch, his hands stung by the blow. Mahmudullah ended with another six over midwicket - this one off Farooqi. He was on 97 with one ball remaining. Omarzai swung one into off, which Mahmudullah could only clip behind square, to be run-out while attempting a second.
