Bangladesh Beat Afghanistan By 8 Runs To Stay Alive In Asia Cup | Cricket News

Bangladesh keep their Super 4 hopes alive with an 8-wicket win against Afghanistan [AFP Photo]

Spinner Nasum Ahmed delivered an economical spell to help Bangladesh secure an eight-run victory over Afghanistan on Tuesday, keeping their Asia Cup aspirations alive. Bangladesh set a target of 154-5, with opener Tanzid Hasan shining with a 52 off 31 balls in Abu Dhabi.

Nasum, along with fellow spinner Rishad Hossain, claimed two wickets each, while pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman achieved figures of 3-28, bowling Afghanistan out for 146. Taskin Ahmed also took two wickets, concluding the innings with the final ball of the match.

Bangladesh completed Group B with two wins and one defeat in their three matches.

Their advancement to the Super Four stage hinges on the final group match between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka on Thursday. A Sri Lankan victory would see Bangladesh progress, while an Afghan win would eliminate Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, with the latter two teams being split on net run-rate.

Left-arm spinner Nasum disrupted Afghanistan’s chase early, striking with the first ball of the innings to trap Sediqullah Atal lbw and claiming the crucial wicket of Ibrahim Zadran for five in the fifth over, finishing with figures of 2-11 from his four overs.

Rishad dismissed Gulbadin Naib, caught and bowled for 16 with his leg-spin, and then removed the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 35, further hampering Afghanistan. Azmatullah Omarzai tried to revive the chase with three sixes in his 16-ball 30 but was dismissed by Taskin.

Captain Rashid Khan made a final effort with a brisk 20 but fell to Mustafizur, who was on a hat-trick before being denied by Fazalhaq Farooqi. Earlier, Tanzid and Saif Hasan established an opening partnership of 63, with Saif contributing 30 as the duo amassed 59 in the powerplay.

Rashid broke the stand in his first over by bowling Saif, and Afghanistan’s spinners soon gained control. Left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad trapped captain Litton Das lbw for nine, further setting back Bangladesh.

Tanzid reached his fifty off 28 deliveries but was dismissed by Noor in the next over. Towhid Hridoy added a 20-ball 26, and although Bangladesh scored just 67 runs in the final 10 overs, it proved sufficient for the win.

(With AFP Inputs)