Canberra, Australia: Afghanistan made a promising start to its Cricket World Cup debut, taking four early wickets and then rallying after Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim combined in a 114-run partnership to bowl Bangladesh out for 267 in the Pool A match on Wednesday.
Fast bowler Mirwais Ashraf took Afghanistan's first World Cup wicket, having Tamim Iqbal (19) acrobatically caught by wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai to end a 47-run opening stand. Bangladesh slipped to 52-2 when Ashraf struck again, trapping Anamul Haque (29) lbw, and to 119-4 in the 30th after Shapoor Zadran (2-20) removed Soumya Sarkar (28) and Mahmudullah (23).
Veterans Mushfiqur (71) and Shakib (63) restored the innings for Bangladesh before both were dismissed in a late collapse, with Afghanistan taking three wickets in the last seven balls.
