DHAKA: Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudullah Riyad struck half-centuries to steer Bangladesh to a respectable total of 265 in the first of their three one-day internationals against Afghanistan in Dhaka on Sunday.
The home side, playing their first ODI in 11 months, suffered a blow in the first over when Dawlat Zadran dismissed Soumya Sarkar for a duck, but the top order soon regained the initiative.
Tamim struck nine fours in his 80 off 98 balls and in the process became the first Bangladeshi cricketer to score 9,000 runs in international cricket.
He put on 83 with Imrul Kayes (37) for the second wicket and then another 79 with Mahmudullah for the third wicket before being removed by Mirwais Ashraf.
Mahmudullah smashed 62 off 74 balls and looked poised for a big innings after reaching his half-century with a boundary off Dawlat.
The right-hander punished Dawlat mercilessly in that over, collecting 16 including his second six of the innings.
Off-spinner Mohammad Nabi could have dismissed Mahmudullah on 58 but skipper Asghar Stanikzai dropped a simple catch at short cover, though it did not prove an expensive mistake.
Nabi removed Mahmudullah, who also struck five fours in his innings, in his next over when Ashraf took a fine catch diving forward at backward square leg.
Afghanistan made something of a comeback when Mushfiqur Rahim (six) and Sabbir Rahman (two) fell cheaply. But Shakib Al Hasan ensured Bangladesh did not lose their way with 48 off 40 balls.
Dawlat claimed four wickets for 73 while Nabi and spinner Rashid Khan grabbed two wickets each for Afghanistan.
The second and third match will be held at the same venue on September 28 and October 1.
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