Shakib Al Hasan’s all-round brilliance inspired Bangladesh to a 62-run victory over Afghanistan to move the Tigers to within one point of England in the World Cup standings.
The 32-year-old has been in the form of his life this month, his 51 from 69 balls on a challenging surface at the Hampshire Bowl the fifth time in six tournament innings he has surpassed a half-century.
Mushfiqur Rahim top-scored with 83 in Bangladesh’s 262 for seven before Shakib took centre stage once more, becoming the first bowler from his country to take a five-wicket World Cup haul.
His five for 29, the best figures of the tournament so far, saw Afghanistan subside to 200 all out after 47 overs for their seventh successive defeat.
Tweet of the day
Can’t wait for tomorrow .. The Biggest game in World Cricket .. Slightly nervous I won’t lie .. !! #OnOn #CWC19
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 24, 2019
The Ashes 2005 winning captain has butterflies ahead of England v Australia at Lord’s on Tuesday.
Snap shot
The England captain insists disgraced Australian pair David Warner and Steve Smith cannot expect immediate forgiveness despite completing 12-month suspensions for their roles in last year’s ball-tampering controversy.
Stat attack
Best bowling figures for ?? in World Cups ✅ Most wickets for ?? in World Cups ✅ Most runs for ?? in World Cups ✅ Most runs of anyone in #CWC19 ✅
Ladies and gentlemen, Shakib Al Hasan.#RiseOfTheTigers pic.twitter.com/YR47zbcstg
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) June 24, 2019
Shakib is in an otherworldly run of form at present. Most of the deserved praise coming his way has been because of his work with the bat following scores of 75, 64, 121, 124, 41 and 51, the last one taking him back to the top of the run-scoring charts. On the day he became the first Bangladesh batsman to reach 1,000 World Cup runs, 476 of which have come this month, he became the first Tigers bowler to take a five-wicket haul in the competition to heavily undermine Afghanistan’s chase.
Top shot
Bowled over
Up next
June 25: England v Australia at Lord’s.
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