Bangladeshi cricketers Afif Hossain and Mehidy Hasan showed remarkable composure and maturity in a heroic effort to deny Afghanistan in what had appeared to be a simple victory for the visitors. Hossain and Hasan combined for an unbroken 174-run partnership in the first ODI at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Wednesday. And this has helped the home side avoid an embarrassing defeat.
In the process, they set a new record for Bangladesh’s highest seventh-wicket stand in one-day internationals. They surpassed Imrul Kayes and Mohammad Saifuddin. Both Kayes and Saifuddin had previously held the record spot for Bangladesh with a 127-run stand against Zimbabwe in Dhaka’s Mirpur in 2018.
Hossain and Hasan were also ranked second in men’s ODI history for most runs added by a duo for the seventh wicket. The English duo of Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid contributed 177 runs against New Zealand in 2015, and are currently at the top of the list.
Returning to the match, Afghanistan batted first and scored 215 runs in 19.1 overs. Najibullah Zadran top-scored with 67 runs, while Mustafizur Rahman took three wickets as the best bowler.
Bangladesh were limited to 45-6 at one point in their reply. But unbeaten half-centuries from Hossain (93*) and Hasan (81*) enabled Bangladesh overcome the odds.
The following round will take place on February 25 at the same location, with the final match slated for February 28. Following the ODI series, a two-game T20I series will be played on March 3 and 5.
1⃣7⃣4⃣*
Afif Hossain 🤝 Mehidy Hasan
The second-highest partnership for the seventh wicket in men's ODIs 🔥#BANvAFG pic.twitter.com/1kI2gF9imj
— ICC (@ICC) February 23, 2022
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