The First round First match of
World T20 2014 was played on 16th March at Shere Bangla National Stadium at Mirpur, in between Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The toss was won by Bangladesh and decided to chase the score built up by Afghanistan team in first innings. Mohammad Shahzad and Najeeb Tarakai came on pitch as opening batsmen for Afghanistan. Much to thrill of first over, Bangladesh took the wicket of Mohammad Shahzad on first ball itself; a catch taken by Mahmudullah on Mashrafe Mortaza's bowling. In came Gulbadin Naib who stayed on pitch and contributed 21 runs in 25 balls. Wickets kept regularly falling down because of shrewd balling by Bangladesh team bowlers. The complete Afghanistan team was all down in 17.1 overs and made a total of only 72 runs, averaging to 4.19 overs per over. It was a good bowling spell by Bangladesh bowlers, especially by Shakib Al Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mahmudullah and others. Hasan took 3 wickets in 3.2 overs and gave a low economy of just 2.52.
Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque opened batting line for Bangladesh. He contributed 21 runs from 27 balls by delivering 2 fours with a strike rate of 77.77. At 7.4 overs, Iqbal was dismissed by a lbw on Samiullah Shenwari's over. In came Shakib Al Hasan who partnered the pitch till victory, staying not out. Anamul Haque contributed 44 runs in 33 balls, while Hasan pushed the score by 10 runs in 12 balls with 1 four.
Bangladesh won the match with 9 wickets in hand, 48 balls still remaining.
Man of Match award was bagged by Shakib Al Hasan for exceptional bowling. Aftab Alam got a hard hitting in his over with economy of 15.