Bangladesh put up a respectable total of 228 runs against India in their opening match of the Champions Trophy, driven by Tawhid Hridoy’s heroic century.
The Tigers were bowled out in 49.4 overs. Nazmul Hossain Shanto’s team will now need to restrict India to below this score to kick off the tournament with a victory.
Bangladesh won the toss at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday and elected to bat first. However, they struggled early, slumping to 35 for 5. Openers Soumya Sarkar, Tanjid Tamim, captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, and Mushfiqur Rahim all fell cheaply, contributing to a mere 39 runs in the powerplay.
The collapse began in the first over when Soumya Sarkar was caught behind by KL Rahul off Mohammed Shami, scoring 0 off 5 balls. In the next over, Harshit Rana dismissed Shanto, who edged a simple catch to Virat Kohli at short cover without scoring. Tanjid Tamim and Mehedi Hasan Miraz briefly steadied the innings with a 24-run stand for the third wicket, but Shami struck again, removing Miraz for 5 off 10 balls, caught by Shubman Gill.
Axar Patel then turned the screws in the ninth over, taking two wickets in consecutive deliveries. He dismissed Tanjid, caught behind for 25 off 25 balls, and followed it up by trapping Mushfiqur Rahim for a golden duck (0 off 1 ball), also caught by Rahul behind the stumps.
From this dire situation, Tawhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah Zaker mounted a remarkable recovery, forging a record-breaking sixth-wicket partnership in Champions Trophy history. Their 131-run stand surpassed the previous record set by South Africa’s Mark Boucher and Justin Kemp in 2006. Both batters reached fifties, with Zaker scoring 68 off 114 balls, including four boundaries, before being caught by Kohli off Shami in the 43rd over while attempting an aggressive shot.
Rishad Hossain provided a late flourish, smashing 2 sixes in an 18-run cameo off 12 balls, before being caught by Hardik Pandya off Harshit Rana. Meanwhile, Hridoy anchored the innings valiantly, reaching his maiden ODI century off 114 balls. He fought on as wickets fell around him but was eventually dismissed by Shami for 100 off 118 balls, adding no further runs after his milestone.
For India, Mohammed Shami was the standout bowler, claiming 5 wickets for 53 runs. Harshit Rana supported with 3 wickets for 31 runs, while Axar Patel picked up 2 wickets for 43 runs.