Bangladesh knocks out Afghanistan in a thriller
Abu Dhabi, UAE - Mustafizur Rahman defended seven runs off the last over against Afghanistan on Sunday as Bangladesh set up a virtual knockout clash against Pakistan on Wednesday. The win also meant that India, which had earlier on Sunday drubbed Pakistan by nine wickets, sailed into the September 28 final.
As impressive as Afghanistan had been in the Asia Cup, it is out of the tournament having failed in its first chase, which was its second straight loss in the Super Four stage. After conceding two off the first ball in the last over, Mustafizur had Rashid Khan caught and bowled before big-hitters Samiullah Shenwari (23 not out) and Gulbadin Naib could muster only two leg-byes in the remaining four balls.
The key perhaps was Mohammad Nabi's dismissal in the penultimate over, as he had already struck two fours and two sixes in his 28-ball 38.
While Mustafizur lived up to his billing as one of the best finishers with the ball in the world, it was Mahmudullah's timely 74 and Imrul Kayes’ unbeaten half-century, which got Bangladesh to a competitive 249 for seven in 50 overs.
He earned the player-of-thematch award after he also took the crucial wicket of Mohammad Shahzad (53), and a great catch to dismiss Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan (39), who had added 78 runs for the fourth wicket with Hashmatullah Shahidi, who reached his third fifty in a row. Shahidi’s 99-ball knock had five boundaries.
Mahmudullah 81-ball knock comprised two sixes and three boundaries while Kayes - recalled as a back-up to strengthen the batting - made an 89-ball unbeaten 72 to help Bangladesh recover from a precarious 87 for five.
Opener Liton Das scored 41 and Mushfiqur Rahim made 33 but Bangladesh - who won the toss and batted - owed its total to a 128-run stand for the sixth wicket between Mahmudullah and Kayes, as the duo thwarted the threat of the Afghan spinning duo of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who claimed a wicket each.