Bangladesh set 250-run target for Afghanistan

Sports Desk: Mahmudullah struck 74 off 81 while Imrul Kayes scored an unbeaten 72 off 89 balls as Bangladesh posted 249-7 in 50 overs against Afghanistan in their do-or-die Super Four encounter of the ongoing Asia Cup at Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Sunday.

Bangladesh’s innings halted twice in the game after they elected to bat first as two early wickets and two unexpected run outs of Sakib al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim in the middle overs held the Tigers to 87-5 in 21st over.

Mahmudullah and Imrul Kayes put up a 128-run stand for the sixth wicket, highest sixth wicket stand for Bangladesh in ODIs to lift Bangladesh after another low-scoring total was looming.

Mahmudullah completed his 20th ODI fifty while Imrul, who got a surprise late call up for the tournament, played the role of an anchor.

Despite losing first two wickets for 18 runs Bangladesh somehow managed to keep the scoreboard ticking as Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das put up a 63-run stand for the third wicket.

Rashid Khan ended the pair when he dismissed Liton for 41 runs.

The Tigers suffered a serious blow when Sakib al was run out for a duck in the second ball he faced.

Mushfiq, who become the third Bangladeshi player to complete 5,000 runs during his innings, suffered the same fate two overs later after scoring 33 runs.

Despite an uproar over the failure of top-order and addition of Imrul and Soumya Sarkar to the squad Bangladesh kept their faith on Liton and Nazmul Hossain as openers.

While Liton, who scored 13 runs in previous three matches, could show at least some promises this time, Nazmul put a big question over his talent attempting a wild slog before fifth over was completed.

Rahmat Shah took a simple catch off Aftab Alam as Nazmul departed for six after making 14 runs in the previous two matches.

In order to save Sakib for late overs, Bangladesh promoted Mohammad Mithun in one-down position but he too failed to grab the chance.

Mujeeb ur Rahman trapped Mithun leg before to leave Bangladesh tottering once again after skipper Mashrafee bin Murtaza won the toss and opted to bat.

Bangladesh made two changes from seven-wicket mauling against India, bringing in Imrul for Mosaddek Hossain and debutant spinner Nazmul Islam for Rubel Hossain.

Afghanistan brought back Samiullah Shenwari for Najibullah Zadran in their only change from three-wicket loss to Pakistan in the previous game.
 

risingbd/Dhaka/September 23, 2018/A K Azad