Bangladesh beat Afghanistan at the Cricket World Cup in India yesterday, while Pakistan on Friday opened their campaign with a comfortable 81-run win against the Netherlands, overcoming an impressive performance from all-rounder Bas de Leede.
The 1992 champions were bowled out for 286 in 49 overs with 68 each from Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan before dismissing their opponents for 205 in 41 overs.
“I am satisfied with the result,” Pakistan captain Babar Azam said. “Credit to the bowlers, we started well and took wickets in the middle. We lost three wickets while batting, but the way Rizwan and Shakeel started took it away.”
Photo: Reuters
Pakistan faced tough resistance from De Leede, who took 4-62 to thwart Pakistan’s pursuit of a big total after they were put in to bat on a flat Rajiv Gandhi Stadium pitch.
De Leede then anchored his team’s innings with a polished 68-ball 67 spiced with two sixes and six fours.
However, once he was bowled by spinner Mohammad Nawaz in the 34th over the Netherlands, who were 120-2 at one stage, fell apart.
Photo: AP
They lost Max O’Dowd (5) and Colin Ackermann (17) before De Leede and opener Vikramjit Singh (52) led the recovery with a 70-run stand for the third wicket.
Singh, who hit four fours and a six, holed out to spinner Shadab Khan before pacer Haris Rauf removed Teja Nidamanuru (5) and rival skipper Scott Edwards without scoring to finish with 3-43.
Logan van Beek hit three fours and a six in his run-a-ball 28 to prolong the resistance, but Rauf dismissed Paul van Meekeren for seven to give his team the victory.
Photo: AFP
“It’s a bit disappointing. We bowled and fielded well,” Edwards said. “We thought we had a good chance at 120-2. De Leede is a quality cricketer in all three departments. His innings was awesome, we just needed someone to be with him.”
In Dharamsala, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan sparked an Afghanistan batting collapse before his side completed a six-wicket win.
Afghanistan, who had been relatively well-placed at 47-1 and 112-2 after being sent into bat, lost their last eight wickets for 44 runs as they were dismissed for just 156 with more than 11 overs to spare.
Left-arm spinner Shakib claimed the opening two wickets in a return of 3-30 in eight overs.
Shakib also had a good day in the field as captain, with his bowling changes soon producing wickets.
Fellow spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz took 3-25 from nine overs as several Afghanistan batsmen gave their wickets away.
Only opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz (47) offered much resistance before, seemingly frustrated at the lack of support from the other end, he holed out off paceman Mustafizur Rahman to Tanzid Hasan in the covers.
Afghanistan’s plight was summed up when tailender Mujeeb Ur Rahman walked out to bat without wearing a box.
In the late game, South Africa made 428-5 batting first against Sri Lanka, who were starting their chase at press time last night.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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