Afghanistan's DRS reluctance

Afghanistan are not used to playing with the Decision Review System in place, and as early as the third over of the game they were required to make a call when the umpire struck down an appeal for caught behind against Tamim Iqbal. Mohammad Nabi and his team-mates got into a huddle and discussions went on till the time available to refer ran out. There was a sound on replays, and Snicko registered a spike too, but Afghanistan did not question Steve Davis' not-out decision. Afghanistan received another opportunity in the 41st over when Davis turned down a leg-before shout against Mushfiqur Rahim. Replays again indicated the impact was pad before bat, but they failed to utilise the review again.

Mirwais Ashraf had tied down Bangladesh with his accurate medium-pace, his first eight overs costing only 17 and bringing two wickets too. Second ball of his ninth, though, Soumya Sarkar finally did what Bangladesh could have tried earlier - unsettling Ashraf's line and length. He stepped out and hammered a length ball over the wide long-on boundary and the bowler's run-tally almost doubled in that over, to 32.

Afsar Zazai was picked ahead of the experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad for the World Cup, and Afghanistan's first wicket in the tournament's history owed a lot to him. Tamim tried to dab Ashraf fine, and went a touch too close to the Zazai, who dived quickly to his left. He'd got to the ball with one hand, but even as he was coming down, it threatened to fall out. Zazai showed superb reflexes again, using his right hand while still in motion to keep the ball from slipping away.

Samiullah Shenwari upper cut Taskin Ahmed high in the air towards third man in the 11th over. Shakib Al Hasan steadied himself and decided not to run forward for it. He may or may not have made it had he tried, and took it on the bounce in the end. Four overs later, Nawroz Mangal guided the same bowler towards the same fielder in the same position. This time Shakib made a dash for it, took the dipping ball as he dived forward, but it burst out as he fell on to the ground.

Mangal had helped rebuild Afghanistan's chase from 3 for 3 when he swept Mahmudullah hard in the 23rd over. The connection was good enough for the ball to rush to Rubel Hossain at deep square leg. The fielder tumbled hard on to the outfield after taking a difficult high catch, but there were no celebrations. He simply remained on the ground for several moments before being helped off the field. As it turned out that he had hurt his left leg before taking the tumble. He returned, though, to start his second spell in the 33rd over.