Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, 7th Match, Pool A - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Venue: Manuka Oval, Canberra Date & Time: Feb 18, 02:30 PM LOCAL

Hamid Hassan © Cricbuzz

Afghanistan will be making their World Cup debut and they will be the cynosure of all eyes. The team has already won a lot of hearts for the way they have fought out of trouble at home and come up and play spirited cricket. They have some good fast bowlers in their ranks as well and Bangladesh will not be taking them lightly.

For a long while, Bangladesh have been categorised as minnows. They will be looking to shrug that tag off. One of the best ways to do it will be to put up a strong show against Afghanistan. There will be no shortage of support for Bangladesh. Their fans will be at the ground and backing the team whole-heartedly.

Mashrafe Mortaza chose to bat even as the Bangladesh fans cheered on loudly. He reckoned that the pitch will be a good one to bat on. Mohammad Nabi, Afghanistan's skipper, was hopeful that his bowlers will get some reverse swing going

Teams:

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Afsar Zazai(w), Javed Ahmadi, Nawroz Mangal, Asghar Stanikzai, Samiullah Shenwari, Mohammad Nabi(c), Najibullah Zadran, Mirwais Ashraf, Aftab Alam, Shapoor Zadran, Hamid Hassan

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Mashrafe Mortaza(c), Soumya Sarkar, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed

Hamid Hassan opened for Afghanistan after a pep talk from Mohammad Nabi in the huddle. Huge moment that for Afghanistan and world cricket as well. Afghanistan's story is one to cherish. The team is not looking for any patronsing though. They have made it clear that they are there to compete. Even though Bangladesh's fans were the louder contingent on the field, Afghanistan had healthy support as well.

Shapoor Zadran started off with Hassan. The openers started watchfully even as Bangladesh's fans egged them on. Not a full house at the Manuka Oval yet but a loud crowd nevertheless. Just going by that crowd in, you would not guess that the match is being played by two 'minnows.' Good, fun setting.

Tamim Iqbal survived a loud caught behind appeal in the third over. There was some sound as the ball passed the bat but Nabi decided not to review it. Both fast bowlers getting some disconcerting bounce early on.

is you don't want either side to lose.

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It went until the 43rd over but the result was a foregone conclusion once Afghanistan were reduced to 3/3. There was absolutely no fight left in them after those early blows. Afghanistan were much more impressive with the ball and restricted Bangladesh for large parts until Mushfiqur and Shakib counter-attacked. It was a good win for Bangladesh, who went on to celebrate it with a victory lap around the ground. That came as a surprise but it was just a way of thanking the numerous fans who had come out to support them. What must be more heartening for Bangladesh's fans is that three of their senior most players - Mushfiqur, Shakib and Mortaza - set the tone with eye-catching performances in the first game. That will set the tone for the rest to follow.