Afghanistan’s impressive performance continues in the Asia Cup 2022. Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets in the match played in Sharjah on Tuesday (August 30).
Afghanistan achieved the target of 128 runs with nine balls to spare. With this win, Afghanistan has become the first team to qualify for the Super-four stage.
Najibullah Jadraj played an important role in Afghanistan’s victory along with its spin bowlers. Najibullah scored 43 runs in just 17 balls which included 6 sixes and a four.
Apart from this, Ibrahim Zadran scored an unbeaten 42 runs facing 41 balls. Afghanistan had to score 52 runs in the last five overs but Najibullah did not give any chance.
Afghanistan defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets in their first match. After winning both their matches in Group B, the Mohammad Nabi-led Afghanistan team remained on top. The second team to reach the Super-four from this group will be decided by the match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Electing to bat after winning the toss, Bangladesh had a very poor start and they lost the wickets of both their openers Mohammad Naeem (06) and Anamul Haque (05) till the score of 13 runs. After off-spinner Mujeeb bowled Naeem on the carrom ball, Anamul was dismissed lbw.
Then captain Shakib Al Hasan (11) hit two consecutive fours on Naveen-ul-Haq but Mujeeb also bowled him in the next over. Bangladesh’s team could only score 28 runs for three wickets in the power play.
Later Afif Hossain (12) and Mahmudullah (25) together took Bangladesh to a score of 50 runs. Rashid broke this partnership of 25 runs by dismissing Afif. When the team’s score was 89 runs, Mahmudullah also returned to the pavilion as the sixth wicket.
After this, Mehdi Hasan and Mosaddek Hossain together took the team past 100 runs. Mosaddek remained unbeaten on 48 runs off 31 balls, due to which the Bangladeshi team scored 127 runs for 7 wickets. Mujeeb ur Rahman and Rashid Khan took three wickets each for Afghanistan.
