A war-torn country Afghanistan registered their first ever win against a Test playing nation – Bangladesh. Afghans defeated the hosts by 32 runs to register their first ever win in Asia Cup.
This win also becomes important as, earlier, last month we reported about that as many as five local cricketers were killed by Taliban in Kandahar. So in spite of so many difficulties this is a huge achievement from Afghanistan.
Now coming back to the game, chasing 255 to win Bangladesh only managed to score 222 runs, thus losing by 32 runs.
For the hosts Bangladesh Mominul Haque (50) and Nasir Hossain (41) were the top scorers in what otherwise was an abject batting display.
For visitors Afghanistan skipper Mohammad Nabi was the pick of the bowlers as he returned with figures of 3/44. Other bowlers like Hamid Hasan and Shappor Zadran picked up two wickets each as Afghanistan restricted the Tigers to 222 all out.
Earlier, a brilliant innings from Asghar Stanikzai, who scored 90 not out, and Samiullah Shenwari’s 81-run whirlwind innings pushed Afghanistan to 6/254.
Stanikzai and Shenwari and shared a mammoth 164-run partnership for the sixth wicket after Afghanistan were reduced to 5/90.
Bangladesh having won the toss sent Afghanistan to bat, struck early blows as the hosts reduced Afghanistan to 5/90 at one stage only to let them recover via a huge sixth wicket stand. The pair smashed 107 in the last 10 overs to give their bowlers a competitive total on a sluggish pitch.
Afghanistan top-order crumbled like nine pins, but players like Nawroz Mangal (24) and Najibullah Zadran (21) will be disappointed as having got of to a good start they threw their wickets away.
Stanikzai smashed six fours and three sixes during his 103 ball knock, which was his fourth fifty over all and second against Test team. Earlier, Stanikzai had scored 66 against Australia in Sharjah. Today he brought up his half-century with a six over mid-wicket of Rubel Hossain.
Shenwari, on the other hand, brought up first half-century against any Test team. Shenwari, earlier, had three fifties with his highest score being- 82 -against Kenya. He was finally run out of the penultimate ball of the innings due to a mix-up with Stanikzai.
In this innings, Stanikzai displayed mixture of aggression and organization, with Bangladeshi fielders also contributing him on his way to a career best score by dropping him thrice, as Nasir Hossain dropped him on 35, while Imrul Kayes dropped him twice on 72 and 77.
For Bangladesh, Arafat Sunny was the best bowler on display in this match, returning with figures of 2/44. Mominul Haque and Rubel Hossain both accounted for one wicket each.
Bangladesh’s situation went from bad to worse when Sohag Gazi was forced off the ground due to a palm injury while fielding.
