The Group B Asia Cup match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi seemed to be in the balance till the 41st over, with Afghanistan reduced to 160 for 7. However, Rashid Khan then took the game away from Bangladesh with an unbeaten 57 off 32 balls, along with Gulbadin Naib’s 42 off 38. The unbroken 95-run stand powered Afghanistan to 255 for 7, after which Rashid returned figures of 9-3-13-2 to dismiss Bangladesh for just 119.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza rued his side’s inability to control Afghanistan in the death overs.
“I think Afghanistan outplayed us from the 40th over in the first innings,” he said. “Our batting was not up to the mark and the bowling in last 10 overs was poor. We have to be fresh for tomorrow’s big match. It is hard to recover from the heat and play back to back matches. Hopefully we will come up with something better tomorrow and play hard. Tamim is going back home. Mushy had a good rest, Mustafizur is coming back from an injury as well so they will play tomorrow since it is a game of consequence.”
Bangladesh will take on India in Super Four Stage of the Asia Cup on Friday in Dubai, while Afghanistan will take on Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on the same day.
