Shakib Al Hasan becomes Bangladesh's highest ODI wicket taker as the Tigers defeat Afghanistan
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan became the highest wicket taker in ODIs for Bangladesh when he dismissed Rahmat Shah of Afghanistan during the first ODI in Mirpur. Shakib now has 208 ODI wickets and went pass Abdur Razzak, who was the highest wicket-taker with 207 scalps. The wicket of Rahmat came at a crucial juncture of the game after he had added 144 runs for the third wicket with Hashmatullah Shahidi.
"It feels good to be the highest wicket-taker. But it would have been good if I had scored the highest runs in all three formats too; everyone is doing so well that I am not getting chance to bat," Shakib joked after the match. "It feels good but ultimately the focus is how much I can do for the team," he added.
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Shakib became only the second Bangladeshi to take 200 wickets in the third ODI against South Africa last year. Mashrafe Mortaza also achieved the feat in the same game and currently has 206 scalps to his name. Shakib took his 100th ODI wicket against Pakistan in 2010 and apart from the trio, Mohammed Rafique is the only other Bangladeshi bowler to take 100 plus ODI wickets.
Bangladesh edge past Afghanistan
Bangladesh prevailed in a thriller against Afghanistan in the first ODI. After batting first, the home side posted a modest 265 courtesy a well-made 80 by opening batsman Tamim Iqbal. The Tigers started off in the worst possible manner losing Soumya Sarkar early but Iqbal and Imrul Kayes resurrected their innings somewhat stitching together an 83 run partnership.
Later it was a quickfire knock by Shakib which propelled Bangladesh to 265. Dawlat Zadran was the highest wicket-taker for Afghanistan with 4 wickets but conceded 73 runs in the process.
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Afghanistan began their start on a positive note as wicket keeper batsman Mohammad Shahzad scored a brisk 31 of 21 balls and led the foundation for the middle order. It was the pair of Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi who forged together a solid 144 run partnership for the third wicket but after the fall of their wickets, Afghanistan lost their way and fell short of the Bangladesh total by seven runs.
Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed removed Mohammed Nabi in the 48th over with Afghanistan within sight of the target but they kept losing at regular intervals during the end stages and eventually lost the game.