Bangladesh Defeat Afghanistan To Stay Alive In Asia Cup

Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim struck a blazing half-century and the spinners backed him up brilliantly as Bangladesh kept their Asia Cup campaign alive with an 8-run victory over Afghanistan in a must-win clash at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi today.

Bangladesh will now turn their attention to Thursday’s Afghanistan–Sri Lanka match at the same venue, which will decide the two qualifiers from Group B for the Super 4 stage. An Afghan win would send them through thanks to their superior net run rate.

Chasing 155 on a slowing surface, Afghanistan faltered early, losing two wickets for just 27 in the powerplay. Bangladesh’s spinners then tightened the screws in the middle overs, keeping the chase under control.

With 22 needed off the final over and just one wicket remaining, Noor Ahmed struck Taskin Ahmed for two sixes, but the resistance ended there as Afghanistan were bowled out for 146 in 20 overs.

While most batters struggled, Tanzid looked in imperious touch, smashing 52 off 31 balls with four fours and three sixes. His innings powered Bangladesh to 154 for 5—an ultimately match-winning total given the conditions.

Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed starred with the ball, taking 3 for 11 in his four overs. He struck twice in his opening spell, derailing Afghanistan early. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (35) and Gulbadin Naib tried to rebuild with a 33-run stand, but leg-spinner Rishad Hossain removed both in quick succession, returning fine figures of 2 for 18.

Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman ensured there was no late twist, with Mustafizur dismissing Rashid Khan and A. M. Ghazanfar in the 19th over, and Taskin removing the dangerous Azmatullah Omarzai, who had threatened with a 16-ball 30.

Earlier, after Bangladesh captain Liton Das chose to bat, Tanzid gave his side a flying start alongside Saif Hasan. The pair added 60 in the powerplay, with Saif contributing a steady 30 before Rashid Khan struck. As the pitch slowed, Afghanistan’s spinners pulled things back—Noor Ahmed picking up Liton (9) and Tanzid in successive overs, finishing with 2 for 23, while Rashid returned 2 for 26 including the wicket of Shamim Patwari (11).