Bangladesh toppled England to move to the top of the ICC ODI Super League points table after clinching the three-match series against Afghanistan at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Friday.

Bangladesh collected 100 points from 14 games while England are currently in second spot with 95 points in 15 games. India are in third position with 79 points from 12 matches.

The series victory also would help Bangladesh to improve their ICC rankings. They are currently in seventh position, just behind Pakistan. A whitewash on Afghanistan would see them leapfrog Pakistan.

The Tigers crushed the visitors by 88 runs in the second ODI to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, thanks to a sublime century of opener Liton Das.

Liton’s 136 off 126 was studded by 16 fours and two sixes and was well complemented by Mushfiqur Rahim’s 86 off 93 as Bangladesh compiled a hefty 306-4, their highest total against Afghanistan. The bowlers then bowled well in tandem to dismiss Afghans for 218 in 45.1 overs.

Bangladesh won the first match by four wickets. Liton and Mushfiqur Rahim combined for a national record 202-run for the third wicket, eclipsing 178 by Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim against Pakistan in 2015.

Both of them however were dismissed by Farid Ahmad Malik in consecutive deliveries. But before that they paved the platform of a big total, which kept Bangladesh in advantageous position.

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Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal praised the effort of Liton and Mushfiqur while added that they need to get 10 points from there next match as well.

‘’The partnership Liton and Mushy created was amazing, though we did not finish well with the bat the bowlers did the job for us and the bowlers have been brilliant,’’ said Tamim.

‘’Very important to win and get those points. When you play well make the most of it and win as many points,’’ he said.

After opting to bat first, Bangladesh lost skipper Tamim Iqbal for 12, following a slow start and Liton also had a nervy start.

Shakib Al Hasan joined him and paced the innings, however, Rashid Khan removed him for 20, indicating a tough day for Bangladesh.

Liton and Mushfiqur then survived some tricky moments against Afghans celebrated spin trio -Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi.

But they soon recovered and brought up the shots from their repertoire to foil the Afghanistan bowling attack.

Mushfiqur who was more fluent than Liton initially brought up his 41st half-century, slog-sweeping Rashid Khan for a boundary through mid-wicket off 56 balls.

Soon after Liton joined him to complete his fifty off 65 balls as he pulled Mohammad Nabi for boundary through square leg.

After getting his half-century, Liton paced his innings impeccably, much to the disappointment of the Afghans attack.

But he was dropped on 87 when Afghan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi shelled the catch off Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Apart from this, Liton’s innings was almost chanceless. He took the Afghans spin trio, especially Rashid Khan in disdain and finally brought up his century off 107 balls, hitting Rashid for a boundary through extra cover.

After completing his century he struck Fazalhaq Farooqi a six over mid-wicket, which was the shot of the day.

Farid Ahmad brought up an end to his magnificent knock, undoing him with a slower short delivery.

Farid got Mushfiqur Rahim with a similar delivery in the next ball to finish with 2-56. Mushfiqur smote nine boundaries in his innings.

Mahmudullah and Afif Hossain then helped Bangladesh propel past the 300 runs mark. It was Bangladesh’s 21st 300 plus total in their 390 ODIs.

Mahmudullah was unbeaten on 6 while Afif, after his epic 93 not out which gave Bangladesh four-wicket win, recovering from a precarious 45-6, was not out on 13.

Farooqi and Rashid took one wicket each.

Najibullah Zadran, who made 67 in the first game, again top-scored for Afghans with 54 and opener Rahmat Shah scored 52.

They shared 89-run for the fourth wicket after Afghanistan were reduced to 34-3.

Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed who finished with 2-31, dismissed both of them in quick succession to edge Bangladesh closer to victory.

Nabi hit 40 and Rashid made a quick 29 but that only reduced the margin.

Shakib ripped through Afghans middle order with his left-arm spin to end with 2-29.

The third and final match will be held on Monday at the same ground.

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