Bangladesh and Afghanistan go head-to-head in their World Cup encounter in Canberra. You can follow the live scores of this match from 2.30pm AEDT.
Bangladesh has been in international cricket for more than 25 years, but barring the odd upset in World Cup cricket, they have flattered to deceive.
Afghanistan are playing in their first ever 50-over World Cup, having featured in the World T20s before.
Both sides have a passionate set of fans following them, and defeat to the other might be difficult to tolerate. Bangladesh obviously start as the more fancied side but the last time the two clashed, in the 2014 Asia Cup, Afghanistan shocked their opponents in their own den to come up trumps.
What makes that win even more special is the fact that Afghanistan were in a bad shape at one stage in the game, having lost five wickets for the 90. With not too much batting to come after that, it was left to the pair of Asghar Stanigzai and Samiullah Shenwari to guide them out of trouble. Stanigzai made 90, Shenwari 81, and Afghanistan recovered to post a more than decent 254 in their 50.
Suddenly, the pressure was on the home side, who have been known to crumble under it at home. That’s exactly what happened.
After losing two wickets for just one, the then-captain Mushfiqur Rahim threw away a start, Mominul Haque scored a 50 before getting out, and despite 30s and 40s from the lower-middle-order, none of them could stay long enough at the crease.
Captain Mohammad Nabi’s three-wicket haul helped the Afghanis bowl Bangladesh out 32 runs short, to register a famous victory.
Going into the World Cup, Bangladesh ran Pakistan close but were routed by Ireland in the second game. Afghanistan were crushed by India but did a lot better against UAE – another minnow nation – putting on 308 batting first before restricting their opponents to 294.
Bangladesh have trouble facing pace bowling, and on paper Afghanistan’s fast bowling unit looks as good if not better than their opposition. The trouble will be the nature of surface.
If the track has the extra juice that quick bowlers relish, then the likes of Shapoor Zadran, Dawlat Zadran and Hamid Hasan might have a bigger say in the game than the Bangladesh bowlers.
If the pitch plays out to be a flat-batting beauty, the Bangladesh batsmen could cash in, much like the India and UAE batsmen did in those two warm-up games against Afghanistan.
Early wickets remain the key and the likes of Tamim Iqbal and Haque will have a lot riding on how they start things off for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh start favourites but I wouldn’t put it beyond Afghanistan to run them real close.
You can follow the live score of this Bangladesh vs Afghanistan World Cup 2015 encounter from 2.30pm (AEDT). Post your comments in the section below.
Brent Ford
Guest
Shakib didn't get man of the match? What a joke!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for that Sandy - again must apologize for irregularity of updates as I simply didn't have the time. But did what I could.
Sandy
Guest
Thanks for your work Scott, it is much appreciated. 3 TV's in the house, all on the cricket but I still tune into the roar.
DaniE
Roar Guru
Thought you did a great job
Scott Pryde
Expert
Would have been my tip to.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well thanks for joining the Roar for this game of the Cricket World Cup between Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Bangladesh running out convincing victors in the end. I must apologise for how few and far between my updates were but at the end of the day it is better than not having a blog. Keep it tuned to the Roar for all things Cricket World Cup and Sport and I may well be back tomorrow to similarly cover tomorrows game, but we shall see closer to the start time of tomorrows game. Hopefully you enjoyed what coverage I could provide you! Goodnight!
DaniE
Roar Guru
Shakib... runs + wickets = thumbs up :) no. 1 ranked all rounder in the world!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Mushfiqur Rahman is the Man Of the Match! Probably just edging out Shakib Al Hasan.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Bangladesh almost doing a victory lap of sorts here. Big crowd and this win means a fair bit to them as they lost to Afghanistan not so long ago.
Scott Pryde
Expert
While we wait for the official announcement who is your man of the match?
Scott Pryde
Expert
No problems. Could be back tomorrow depending on time and sorry about how few and far between the updates were.
Scott Pryde
Expert
So Bangladesh win the game by 105 runs. In the end they were just clinical in the field and Afghanistan were never really in it after they lost 3 wickets for just 3 runs at the beginning of their innings. They never recovered. Afghanistan actually looked on top of the game until the Bangladesh batting powerplay, but hot long ago that seems now. Nabi was undoubtedly Afghanistan's best but still couldn't get his team anywhere near it in the end. All the bowlers for Bangladesh were good but Mortaza and Al Hasan were the pick.
DaniE
Roar Guru
Thanks for taking the time to blog this Scott
DaniE
Roar Guru
What a way to end the game with a flourish
Scott Pryde
Expert
And that is it! A run out to finish proceedings and Afghanistan are all out for 162 in 42.5 overs.
Scott Pryde
Expert
the 9th wicket has fallen in this run chase.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well Afghanistan finally have a crack. 1 six, but then Ashraf is caught at deep mid off. 2 wickets to go and just a matter of time. Score - Afghanistan 8/154 (41)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Afghanistans run rate during the powerplay is just 2.4.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks Mo, Sorry about how few and far between the posts are but it's better than nothing I guess. Good chance I might be doing the same again tomorrow time permitting.