Recent Match Report – Bangladesh vs Afghanistan 2nd ODI 2021/22

February 25, 2022

The pair added 202 for the third wicket, a record for Bangladesh in ODIs

Bangladesh 306 for 4 (Litton 136, Mushfiqur 86, Fareed 2-56) vs Afghanistan

Litton Das‘ fifth ODI century drove Bangladesh to 306 for 4 in their 50 overs in the second ODI against Afghanistan in Chattogram. His record 202-run stand with Mushfiqur Rahim, highest for Bangladesh for the third wicket, formed the heart of the innings. It is only Bangladesh’s fifth 200-plus stand in ODIs.

Afghanistan had a tough day in the field. They lost their regular wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz to a knee injury in the fourth over. They conceded 33 extras, including 18 wides, the most by them in ODIs . To make matters worse, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi dropped Litton when he was on 87, while substitute wicketkeeper Ikram Alikhil missed an easy stumping chance with Mushfiqur on 69.

Litton reached his century in the 41st over when he lofted Rashid Khan over the covers. The 136 off 126 balls is Litton’s second-highest score in ODIs, and his third hundred at home.

In a momentary blip for the hosts, Mushfiqur, who made 86, followed Litton back to the pavilion off consecutive balls, but by then Bangladesh had the base for a big finish. Mahmudullah and Afif Hossain however hit just one boundary between them, and Bangladesh added just 20 runs in the last 3.3 overs.

Bangladesh made a better start in this game than the last one, but captain Tamim Iqbal fell lbw again to Fazalhaq Farooqi in the seventh over. Farooqi however couldn’t repeat his four-wicket opening burst from the last game. Litton and Shakib Al Hasan batted strongly for eight overs before Rashid had Shakib plumb lbw for 20.

Litton stroked the ball to most of his favoured areas. He used his range of cut shots to find eight boundaries in that region, apart from two beautiful drives, three flicked fours and swivel pull. After completing his century, Litton smacked two big sixes towards the shorter boundary at midwicket, the first of which went into the second tier.

Mushfiqur played a supporting knock, nurdling singles to feed Litton the strike while he was hitting the ball well. Mushfiqur struck nine fours in his 93-ball knock, but fell trying to upper-cut Fareed Ahmad in the 47th over.

Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84