Afif and Mehidy put up a 174-run unbroken partnership.

Bangladesh made an incredible recovery in the opening of a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan in Chattogram on Wednesday, chasing down a target of 216 thanks to a 174-run unbroken partnership for the seventh wicket. Bangladesh grabbed a 1-0 lead owing to a seventh-wicket partnership of record-breaking proportions between Afif Hossain and Mehidy Hasan.

The 174-run stand establishes a new record for the greatest partnership for the 7th wicket in ODI run chases. It is also Bangladesh’s highest partnership in ODI cricket for anything less than the fifth wicket.

Bangladesh got off to a bad start, being reduced to 45/6 in the 12th over. Pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi, who just signed with SunRisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, stormed through the top order, scooping up four wickets with the new ball. He received 8 points from captain Tamim Iqbal, 1 point from Liton Das, 3 points from Mushfiqur Rahim, and 0 points from Yasir Ali.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman took the important wicket of Shakib Al Hasan for ten, while Bangladesh lost Mahmudullah for eight to Rashid Khan.

Afif and Mahidy, on the other hand, resisted the Afghanistan charge. Afif smashed 93 off 115 balls, including 11 boundaries and a six, while Mehidy was undefeated on 81 from 120 balls, with 9 boundaries.

Tamim Iqbal, Bangladesh’s captain, stated that he did not believe Bangladesh could chase 216 when they were reeling at 45/6, while praising the two batsmen, Afif and Mehidy, for their “unbelievable” efforts.

“To be honest, no. No, I didn’t. To come here and pretend I had faith would be a lie. 45/6 chasing 215, extremely difficult, fantastic performance by the juniors, really delighted and proud. It’s not easy. Afghanistan has a terrific spin assault, and the way these two handled it was incredible, with a lot to learn as well “Tamim said.

Earlier in the day, Bangladesh bowled Afghanistan out for 215 in 49.1 overs after making a strong effort with the ball.

Mustafizur Rahman took three wickets, while Taskin Ahmed, Shakib Al Hasan, and Shoriful Islam each took two.

Najibullah Zadran top-scored for Afghanistan with 67, while the rest of the batting lineup contributed very little.

The two teams will play the second one-day international (ODI) on Friday at the same venue in Chattogram.