Bangladesh defeat Afghanistan to keep Asia Cup hopes alive

Wednesday, 17 September 2025 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

ABU DHABI: Bangladesh kept their hopes of reaching the Asia Cup Super-Four alive with a thrilling 8-run win against Afghanistan in a Group B match played at Zayed Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Afghanistan who has never successfully chased 150 plus against a full member nation were bowled out for 146 in reply to Bangladesh’s 154-5.

Had Bangladesh lost, they would have been out of the Super Four race. But the bowlers and fielders rallied around superbly to take their side home. Nasum Ahmed started off brilliantly for them with a first-ball wicket and then got Ibrahim Zadrean lbw. He bowled outstandingly in the powerplay and forced Afghanistan on the back foot. Just when a partnership was building, Bangladesh came back to take a wicket and that really didn’t allow Afghanistan to get ahead. Azmatullah Omarzai was the dangerman and he looked to be in great nick too, but Taskin Ahmed got him and the wickets of Janat and Rashid Khan sealed the deal for Bangladesh. Noor Ahmed struck a couple of crucial sixes in the last over to help reduce the margin of defeat which greatly affected Bangladesh’s net run rate which remained in the minus although they won.

Bangladesh put up a decent total on the board against Afghanistan’s quality bowling unit. Facing the likes of Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Nabi and Mohammad Ghazanfar was never going to be easy, but the batters handled the challenge well, especially during the powerplay.

Saif Hassan chipped in with a steady knock, though his strike rate left a bit to be desired. Tanzid Hasan Tamim, meanwhile, was the standout performer as he registered a fine half-century (52 off 31 balls, 4 fours, 3 sixes) and set the tone within the first half of the innings.

Despite being well-placed at 87-1 after 10 overs, Bangladesh couldn’t fully capitalize the next 10 overs and ended on 154/5. Things changed after the drinks break when Noor Ahmad was brought into the attack. He immediately trapped Litton Das lbw and then, in the very next over, also got the key wicket of Tanzid Tamim, who had just scored the fastest T20I fifty for Bangladesh in Asia Cup. From there onwards, the Afghan bowlers, especially the spinners, Noor and Rashid Khan did an excellent job of squeezing the run rate in the middle and death overs. The Bangladeshi batters played a staggering 48 dot balls. Rashid and Noor were the stars, each picking up two wickets.

Scores: Bangladesh 154-5 (20) (Saif Hasan 30, Tanzid Hasan 52, Towhid Hridoy 26, Rashid Khan 2/26, Noor Ahmed 2/23)

Afghanistan 146 (20) (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 35, Azmatullah Omarzai 30, Rashid Khan 20, Nasum Ahmed 2/11, Mustafizur Rahman 3/28, Rishad Hossain 2/18) – [ST]