Asia Cup highlights: Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by 32 runs to register first win against Test-playing nation

Afghanistan scored a historic 32-run win over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup tie at Fatullah. Catch all the updates here, as it happened. (Match Scorecard | Text Commentary)

 

Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim: I thought we were outplayed in all the three disciplines. Afghanistan batted very well in the slog overs but we conceded too many runs too. They didn't give us the chance to win after batting so well. We had one bowler short, our bowling was still okay but we batted badly. Still two more games to go and hopefully we will come back.

Afghanistan skipper Mohd Nabi: First match win for us against a Test-playing nation. Bangladesh bowled well in the beginning but we hit back hard by scoring 107 runs in the last ten overs. Fans back home in Afghanistan will be very happy. We will try to keep performing well in our upcoming games.

Man of the Match Samiullah Shenwari: Our good time has come after years of hard work. My good spin-bowling is also the result of hard work by our coach.

 

Afghanistan just carried the momentum they got while batting into their bowling and got a fine start. Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim kept the chase on track for Bangladesh and then Naeem Islam also batted well with Nasir Hossain. When it seemed that the home side had the edge, Afghanistan roared back with a team hat-trick which completely changed the landscape of this match. Ziaur Rahman threatened for a while with his whirlwind 22-ball 41 but he failed to take his side beyond the finish line. It was a team effort from the Afghani bowlers and everyone contributed to the cause. They now are off the mark in the tournament and it's going to be extremely tough for Bangladesh from here on.

21:15 (IST) History is made here as Afghanistan win by 32 runs and record their first victory over a Test-playing nation. Bangladesh are all out for 222 in 47.5 overs. They have beaten a Test playing nation and are absolutely delighted. They gained momentum in this match pretty late as they once were struggling while batting and were in danger of getting bowled out cheaply. But all thanks to the pair of Shenwari and Stanikzai who batted exceedingly well in the death overs to post a challenging total on the board.

21:05 (IST) FOUR! Is the match turning here? Full length ball on off, Rubel aims for a heave across the line but it catches the outside edge and flies past the keeper for a boundary. 40 needed off 32.

21:03 (IST) Shapoor Zadran to Rubel Hossain and its a four! Back of a length delivery on off, Rubel camps back, gets on top of the bounce and slaps it through extra cover for a boundary. 44 needed off 33!

21:00 (IST) WICKET! Death rattle! Floated off-spinner on off, Rahman walks forward to drive it through the line but it spins back in to beat the inside edge. The ball sneaks through and hits the off stump. What a knock by Ziaur but he failed to keep going! 50 needed off 36!

20:56 (IST) DROPPED AND FOUR! That was the game there for Afghanistan. Flighted ball on middle and leg, Rahman sits down on one knee with a slog across the line but fails to connect well. Mangal in the deep runs forward but fails to take the catch. It ricochets off his hands and squirts to the ropes.

20:54 (IST) Hassan is struggling with his hamstring and is going off the field. Mohammad Nabi to complete the over.

20:52 (IST) SIX! Mighty hit from Ziaur! Is there life left in this match? The crowd surely thinks so. They are on their feet and are making a lot of noise. Fullish ball on middle and off from Hamid Hassan, Rahman makes some room and launches it over extra cover for a biggie.

20:45 (IST) Ziaur Rehman keeps Bangladesh in the hunt, scoring 18 runs in the 42nd over. Bangladesh 185/8, need 70 more from 8 overs.

20:36 (IST) WICKET! Team hat-trick for Afghanistan! This is brilliant stuff from the Afghans. Zadran comes from round the wicket and serves a good length ball down the leg side. Sunny tries to flick it across the line but gets a faint tickle behind. Shahzad collects the ball safely, appeals and the finger goes up. Bangladesh 167/8, need 88 more from 9 overs.

20:33 (IST) WICKET! School boy stuff by Razzak and Bangladesh have lost their seventh wicket. Fullish ball on middle and off, Razzak hits it over the bowler's head and crosses for a run. He is lazy in dragging his bat inside the crease and there is a direct hit at the non-striker's end. They appeal, it's referred upstairs and the replays confirm that the bat was in the air when the bails came off. Bangladesh 165/7 (40.4 overs).

20:30 (IST) WICKET! Islam falls and there is a stunned silence in the stands. Length ball on middle and off, Islam makes some room to power it through the line but fails to get the desired elevation. It goes uppishly to mid off where Mangal grabs the catch superbly.

20:22 (IST) WICKET! Soft dismissal! A short delivery wide outside off, there to be hit, Nasir goes back with the cut shot but fails to keep it down. The ball goes straight into the hands of the point fielder. Timely wicket for Afghanistan! 94 needed off 66 balls.

20:17 (IST) SIX! Loopy full ball on off, an off-spinner, Nasir Hossain tees off for a big shot down the ground but fails to time it well enough. It goes aerially to the fielder at long on who completely misjudges it and the ball bursts through his palms to go over the ropes. Bangladesh 151/4, chasing 255.

20:12 (IST) Tossed up delivery on off by Nabi, Naeem Islam gets on the front foot and drives it to extra cover. Hassan stationed inside the circle makes a complete mess of a simple stopping chance and it races away to the fence. Bangladesh 135/4, need 120 more from 14 overs.

20:00 (IST) South Africa vs Australia fans - David Warner scored a century on Day 1 of the 3rd Test at Newlands. Follow live scores here.

19:52 (IST) Well adjusted in the end by Nasir Hossain. After seeing the batsman walking forward, Shenwari fires a full ball down the leg side, Hossain does well to connect with his sweep shot and places it well to the deep square leg fence.

19:42 (IST) Afghanistan can gain a bonus point if they restrict Bangladesh to 203 or less.

19:34 (IST) BOWLED! Shenwari tosses it up and lands it full on middle, Mominul walks down the track and yorks himself in the process. He fails to keep it down and the ball goes on to disturb the stumps. The umpire quickly checks upstairs for the front no-ball and it was fine. A massive breakthrough for Afghanistan! Bangladesh 88/4 (25 overs), chasing 255.

19:28 (IST) Mominul reaches his 2nd fifty in ODIs. Flatter ball on middle, Mominul goes back and turns it off his pads to square leg for a single. A lovely knock by the little batsman but he needs to carry on. Bangladesh 87/3 (24 overs).

19:20 (IST) Stanikzai drops a sitter! Flatter ball outside off, touch short too, Hossain rocks back to heave it across the line but it catches the top edge and balloons in the air. Stanikzai runs towards the chance from short third man, dives forward, reaches the ball too but fails to pouch it. Costly miss? Bangladesh 72/3 (20 overs), chasing 255.

19:10 (IST) WICKET! Big blow for Bangladesh! Rahim departs and Afghanistan are excited. Skipper Mohd Nabi delivers an off-spinner around off, Rahim gets forward to play the flick shot but misses and is rapped on the pads. They appeal and the finger goes up immediately. Bangladesh 69/3 (18.1 overs).

19:00 (IST) Mominul is getting a bit restless. Mirwaiz Ashraf lands it on a fuller length on middle, Mominul tries to heave it across the line but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

18:52 (IST) FOUR BYES! Outside off, Mominul tries to go for the cut but misses it. The keeper misses it too and it goes for byes. Bangladesh 60/2 (15 overs).

18:41 (IST) The 50-run stand is up between Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim. Bangladesh 51/2 after 12 overs, chasing 255.

18:33 (IST) Mominul flicks hamid Hassan for another four past mid-wicket. Bangladesh 42/2 after 10 overs.

18:26 (IST) Short outside off by off-spinner Karim Sadiq, Mominul goes back for the cut shot, but gets a little outside edge which goes past the 1st slip fielder to the third man boundary. Bangladesh 37/2 (9 overs)

18:18 (IST) Lovely wrist work from Mominul! Pitched up on the leg side, the left-hander flicks it beautifully through the mid-wicket region off Shapoor.

18:10 (IST) Pulled away for four! Short pitched delivery outside off, Mominul Haque gets into the line of the ball and pulls it to the mid-wicket boundary for four. bangladesh 23/2 (5 overs, chasing 255.

18:02 (IST) First four of the innings - On the legs and Mushfiqur Rahim flicks Hamid Hassan to the square leg boundary. He looks in great touch after the ton vs India in the previous game. Bangladesh 16/2 after 4 overs.

17:52 (IST) WICKET! Plumb in front! Hassan angles in a good length delivery and lands it on middle. It goes on with the angle and traps Haque on the pads. They appeal and the umpire raises his finger. That was hitting leg. Hassan is pumped up and this has been a superb start for Afghanistan! Bangladesh 1/2 (2 overs) vs Afghanistan 254/6.

17:45 (IST) WICKET! Bowled 'em! Off stump goes flying. Pitched on middle and off by Shapoor Zadran, seaming back in a bit, Shamsur Rahman tries to defend to the off side, but completely misses it and his stumps are shattered.

 

17:40 (IST) The players are back on the field. Shamsur Rahman and Anamul Haque are the openers for Bangladesh. Shapoor Zadran to open the bowling for Afghanistan.

 

A spectacular comeback from Afghanistan. They got off to a poor start and were at one point reeling at 90/5. But then Stanikzai and Shenwari got together, played carefully, slowly built the innings and then went berserk at the death. The added 164 from 138 balls to power Afghanistan past 250. Bangladesh conceded 107 runs from last 10 overs. Arafat Sunny was the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers with figures of 2/44. Mominul Haque bowled a frugal spell of 1/38! This is going to be a tricky chase for Bangladesh.

16:51 (IST) 12 runs from the final over and Afghanistan post 254/6 in 50 overs. Asghar Stanikzai is unbeaten on 90 and Samiullah Shenwari is runout on the penultimate ball for 81.

16:45 (IST) SIX! Splendid shot by Shenwari! Loopy and full outside off, it's a touch wide. Shenwari dances down the track and slaps it straight back over the bowler's head for a maximum. Cracking stroke! Afghanistan 242/5 (49 overs).

16:38 (IST) 16 runs off 47th over, Afghanistan 222/5.

16:34 (IST) FOUR! A valiant effort in the deep from Hossain goes in vain! Full on middle, Shenwari thumps it straight back over the bowler's head, Hossain moves to he left, dives and looks to flick it back but the ball touches the rope. Afghans 206/5 (46 overs).

16:28 (IST) SIX! Stanikzai is turning it on! Loopy and full outside off, Stanikzai dances down the track and thumps it over long on for a maximum. Afghanistan 193/5 (45 overs)

16:21 (IST) Shenwari brings up his fifty in style! Fullish outside off, Shenwari comes forward and drives it through point for a boundary. He is pumped up as he shows the bat to the dressing room. Afghanistan 184/5 (44.1 overs).

16:17 (IST) Two balls later, its a four - Smashed! A tad wide outside off, Stanikzai cracks it through point for a boundary.

16:15 (IST) SIX! Clobbered! Full on off, Stanikzai plunders it over wide long on for a maximum. Gets to his fifty. It's been a crucial innings from him so far.

16:05 (IST) Shenwari on the attack, hits back-to-back four off Abdur Razzak to bring up 50-plus stand with Asghar Stanikzai. Afghanistan 147/5 (40 overs)

15:57 (IST) Samiullah Shenwari cuts Abdur Razzak for four, through the covers. Afghanistan 132/5 (37.2 overs)

15:52 (IST) Samiullah Shenwari lofts Mominul Haque over mid-on and gets four. Afghanistan 124/5 (35 overs).

15:40 (IST) FACTOID: New-man Samiullah Shenwari is one of the leading all-rounders to come out of Afghanistan. After 28 ODIs, Shenwari has 35 wickets and a batting average of over 31.

15:28 (IST) Afghanistan reach 100-run mark in 29.3 overs.

15:14 (IST) WICKET! Skipper Mohd Nabi is gone, out caught by Nasir Hossain at first slip off part-timer Mominul Haque. Nabi made 7 off 15.  

15:03 (IST) WICKET! Nawroz Mangal is run out for 24, thanks to a direct hit from Naeem Ismal at backward point. Afghanistan 75/4 (23 overs).

14:53 (IST) Drinks break and Afghanistan are 57 for 3 after 19 overs.

14:46 (IST) Another left-arm spinner into the attack, Mominul Haque. Mangal edges him and gets a four.

 

14:37 (IST) Asghar Stanikzai struggling to rotate the strike. On the other hand Mangal is fidgety at the non-striker's end.

14:29 (IST) New-man Nawroz Mangal, who captained Afghanistan in the 2012 World T20, sweeps off-spinner Nasir Hossain for four, between short fine-leg and square-leg. Afghanistan 50/3 after 16 overs.

14:24 (IST) WICKET! Najibullah b Sunny (21). Bowling from round the wicket, the left-arm spinner bowled it flatter and straighter only for the left-handed batsman to come down the track and miss the ball altogether. Afghanistan 43/3 (13.5 overs).

14:18 (IST) WICKET! Karim Sadiq out caught and bowled by Arafat Sunny for 12 off 36 balls. Sadiq tried to turn it on the on side but got a leading edge, loping a simple catch to the bowler. Afghanistan 40/2 (12.1 overs).

14:15 (IST) SIX! Karim Sadiq breaks the shackles with a six off Arafat Sunny. Afghanistan 40/2 (11.3 overs)

14:10 (IST) Meanwhile, for all Test cricket fans, the third match between South Africa and Australia has begun at Newlands Cape Town with the visitors electing to bat. Catch live scores here.

14:02 (IST) Rubel Hossain bowls it short and Najibullah pulls it hard through mid-wicket for four - second four for him. Afghanistan 32/1 after 9 overs.

13:55 (IST) FACTOID: Left-hand batsman Najibullah Zadran is 21 years old, born in Logar, Afghanistan. He has previously represented the Afghanistan Under-19 side.

13:50 (IST) First four of the innings! Najibullah Zadran comes down the track and hits Abdur Razzak over mid-off for four.

13:43 (IST) WICKET! Mohd Shahzad is out LBW, Rubel Hossain strikes in his second over. Afghanistan 6/1 after 2.2 overs.

13:39 (IST) Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak to bowl the second over.

13:34 (IST) Rubel Hossain bowls a wayward first over after two wide balls. Afghanistan 4/0 (1 over).

13:31 (IST) Karim Sadiq and Mohd Shahzad are the two opening batsmen for Afghanistan.

13:28 (IST) Players making their way out to the middle.

 

Playing XIs

Bangladesh

Shamsur Rahman, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Nasir Hossain, Naeem Islam, Ziaur Rahman, Sohag Gazi, Abdur Razzak, Arafat Sunny, Rubel Hossain

Afghanistan

Mohammad Shahzad, Karim Sadiq, Asghar Stanikzai, Nawroz Mangal, Mohammad Nabi (captain), Samiullah Shenwari, Najibullah Zadran, Mirwais Ashraf, Hamid Hassan, Shapoor Zadran, Hamza Hotak

 

13:01 (IST): Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to field first against Afghanistan. Mushfiqur Rahim is fit and will lead the Bangladesh side.

 

Hosts Bangladesh will take on Afghanistan in the Asia Cup on Saturday in a likely battle of equals, as both teams even with their minnows tag, have troubled India and Pakistan respectively in their opening matches of the tournament.

The uncertainty over the fitness of Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim is likely to be a matter of concern for the hosts in this match whereas Afghanistan will be ruing how they lost a game against Pakistan they should probably have won.

Even Mashrafe Mortaza has been ruled out of the Bangladesh side due to a side-strain injury and will be replaced by pacer Shafiul Islam.

Afghanistan had showed great determination in their match against Pakistan where they reduced their opponents to 117/6 before a dropped catch of Umar Akmal hit them bitterly, as he slammed his second ODI century to do a wonderful rescue job take Pakistan to 248/8 from 50 overs.

Finalists in the last Asia Cup, Bangladesh, on the other hand, had India in trouble when they set up a difficult chase of 280 for their opponents before some incredible shot-making from Virat Kohli (136) and some resilient batting from Ajinkya Rahane (73) took India to a comfortable win.

Teams (from):

Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Al-Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Shafiul Islam, Naeem Islam, Rubel Hossain, Shakib-Al-Hasan, Ziaur Rahman, Abdur Razzak, Anamul Haque, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Shamsur Rahman, Sohag Gazi.

Afghanistan: Mohammad Nabi (capt), Naowroz Mangal, Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Zadran, Fazal Niazai, Hamid Hassan, Hamza Hotak, Karim Sadiq, Mirwaiz Ashraf, Mohammad Shahzad, Najibullah Zadran, Noor Ali Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Samiullah Shenwari, Shapoor Zadran.