Kayes, Mahmudullah steer Bangla to 249
abu dhabi — Bangladesh fired 249 for the loss of seven wickets against Afghanistan in a must-win Super Four match of the Asia Cup 2018 at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Bangladesh slipped but got out of the hole through a 128-run sixth wicket partnership between comeback man Imrul Kayes (72) and experienced Mohammad Mahmudullah (74). Also, Liton Das (41) and Mushfiqur Rahim (33) gave support with a 63-run third wicket effort.
All was not well with Bangladesh at the start of the day. Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza chose to bat but what has by now become a custom, the opening partnership didn’t last long.
Nazmul Hossain Shanto once again failed to find his feet on the big stage and was out for six runs while trying to smack Aftab Alam’s delivery. Bangladesh’s misery got compounded as new batsman Mohammad Mithun was trapped leg before by spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
By the sixth over, Mushfiqur joined Liton with Bangladesh reeling at 18 runs. They took time to settle down and the first boundary came only by the ninth over. There was a lucky reprieve for Bangladesh as Mushfiqur was dropped on nine runs. And the keeper-batsman punished the Afghans for the miss by striking Alam for a four and a six. Liton and Mushfiqur brought stability to the innings.
However, fortunes changed sides as an in-form spinner Rashid Khan was introduced and he needed just four balls to dismiss a sweeping Liton. The opener returned after scoring a career-best 43-ball 41.
And then Bangladesh entered a blind alley of self-destruction. Two dependable seniors — Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur were run out due to their own undoing of poor calling. Shakib was gunned by a direct hit from Samiullah Shenwari. Mushfiqur’s run out was reviewed but TV umpire gave the marching orders after a long scrutiny.
Bangladesh slipped from 81 for three to 87 for five wickets by 21 overs.
It was then that the experienced pair of Kayes and Mahmudullah took charge of the situation. They rotated strikes, punished bad balls for boundaries and took Bangladesh to 150 by 36th over. The duo was consistent and ensured an average run rate of more than four an over.
Mahmudullah powered Bangladesh past 200 by smacking Rashid for a thunderous six. He perished while trying to push the score but Kayes with timely boundaries set a target of 250, which is a tough ask, especially since the Afghans haven’t chased so far in the tournament.