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With this win, Bangladesh retain their second spot in the group with two wins and a loss, total of four points. Sri Lanka is at the top with two wins in two matches. With a win and loss each, Afghanistan stays at third spot. If Afghanistan beat Sri Lanka in the final Group B clash, all three teams would have two wins each, with things coming down to net-run-rate.
During a run-chase of 155 runs, Nasum Ahmed struck on the first ball for Bangladesh, removing Sediqullah Atal, the half-centurion against Afghanistan for a golden duck.
Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz tried to get the scoreboard running with a few boundaries, but Nasum did not let Zadran go on for too long, trapping him lbw for a 12-ball five. Afghanistan was 18/2 in 4.1 overs.
At the end of six overs, Afghans were in a tricky spot at 27/2, with Gurbaz joined by Gulbadin Naib. The eighth over by Shamim Hossain fetched Afghanistan 16 runs, including a six by Gurbaz and a four by Naib.
Afghanistan reached the 50-run mark in 8.1 overs. However, they got themselves in trouble by giving Rishad Hossain two quick wickets. At the end of 10 overs, Bangladesh was 61/3, after Rishad got rid of Naib for 16 in 14 balls, with two fours. Gurbaz, who was looking to up the attack, ended up handing a catch to Jaker Ali at deep backwards square leg, gone for 35 in 31 balls, with two fours and two sixes. Afghanistan was four down at 62/4 in 10.2 overs.
At the end of 13th over, a fine delivery by pacer Mustafizur Rahman got rid off an experienced Mohammed Nabi for a sluggish 15 in 15 balls, with a six, with a thick inside-edge crashing into his stumps. Afghanistan was halfway done at 77/5.
Azmatullah Omarzai looted a total of 20 runs from the 14th over bowled by spinner Saif Hassan, including two sixes and a four. Afghanistan reached the 100-run mark in 14.4 overs.
Azmatullah’s fightback was finally ended by Taskin Ahmed, with Saif taking a safe catch at backwards point. The all-rounder was gone for a fiery 30 in 16 balls, with a four and three sixes. Afghanistan was 109/4 in 15.4 overs. Afghans needed 45 runs in the final four overs.
In the next over, skipper Rashid continued piling pressure on Bangladesh bowlers, launching Mustafizur for a no-look six and a four, collecting 14 more runs for his side. However, some fielding brilliance from Nurul Hasan and Litton Das sent back Karim Janat for a 8-ball six. Afghanistan was 124/7 in 17.1 overs.
In the 19th over, after being hit for a four, Mustafizur bounced back by picking up Rashid for a quickfire 20 off 11 balls (two fours and a six), reducing Afghanistan to 132/8 in 18.2 overs. On the next over, Allah Ghazanfar edged one to the keeper, giving Mustafizur a chance at a match-sealing hat-trick, and he missed it.
In the final over, Afghanistan needed 22 runs. In the final over, with 21 needed in four, Noor Ahmed took a massive swing for a six, but a much slower ball from Taskin Ahmed next gave a no run, dashing Afghanistan’s hopes. However, after a six on the penultimate ball, Noor perished on the final ball, as Bangladesh won by eight runs, bowling out Afghanistan for 146 runs.
Mustafizur (3/28) and Taskin (2/34) were the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh as far as pacers were concerned, with spinners Nasum (2/11) and Rishad (2/19) stealing the spotlight with their wizardly spin, which choked a valiant Afghanistan.
Earlier, despite a spirited bowling display from Afghanistan, they failed to restrict Bangladesh before they soared to a competitive total of 154/5 in 20 overs. Bangladesh faced a quartet of Rashid, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Nabi and Allah Ghazanfar but managed to fare well in the first innings, which was a tale of two halves.
Opening pair, Saif Hassan (30 in 28 balls, with two fours and a six) and Tanzid Hasan (52 in 31 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes), raised a 63-run opening stand, handing a solid foundation to Bangladesh before the former got dismissed.
Captain Litton (9 off 11 balls) fumbled as the scoring rate slumped heavily. Despite being well-placed at 87/1 after 10 overs, Bangladesh could not capitalise in the second half of the innings and managed to post 154/5, scoring just 67 runs in the next half of the innings and losing four wickets.
Towhid Hridoy (26 off 20, with a four and six) got off to a composed start but failed to convert his performance into something of significance. Nurul chipped in with a handy 12* off 6 deliveries to propel Bangladesh past the 150-run mark.
Noor (2/23) and skipper Rashid (2/26) were the pick of the bowlers, while Azmatullah Omarzai got one wicket.
Rashid cemented his place at the summit of the wicket-taking chart in the tournament’s history during the match. The 26-year-old ball tweaker moved to the top with 14 wickets in 10 matches at 18.00, with best figures of 3/22 in T20I Asia Cup history. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the star Indian pacer known for his quality swing, slipped to second with 13 wickets in six appearances at 9.46, with best figures of 5/4.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh: 154/5 (Tanzid Hasan 52, Towhid Hridoy 26, Noor Ahmad 2/23) won against Afghanistan: 146 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 35, Azmatullah Omarzai 30, Mustafizur Rahman 3/28).-ANI
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