BAN vs AFG Highlights, Asia Cup 2022 - Afghanistan 131/3 vs Bangladesh 127/7; Become First Team to Enter Super Four Stage

SEALED WITH A SIX. Najibullah Zadran hits his sixth six of the innings as Afghanistan overhaul the target of 128 in 18.3 Overs to finish with 131/3 and with that have become the first team to qualify for the Super Four Stage of Asia Cup 2022. A dominating finish to this contest which at one stage seemed to be tilting in favour of Bangladesh whose spinners did a terrific job to keep Afghan batters quiet. However, once the pacers returned, Najibullah Zadran shifted gears and unleashed a flurry of boundaries to remain unbeaten on 43 off 17. Ibrahim Zadran played a solid innings too – 42* off 41.

Scintillating batting from Afghanistan. Ibrahim Zadran and Najibullah Zadran have creamed Mohammad Saifuddin for 22 runs and now Afghanistan need just four runs to win. The over began with Ibrahim flicking the first delivery to deep midwicket region for a four. And then Najibullah took over as he first belted a four and then sent the last two deliveries flying over the boundary for consecutive sixes. Score 124/3 in 18 Overs.

Najibullah Zadran takes on Mustafizur Rahman. A short delivery and Zadran pulled it over deep backward square leg for a six. And then dropped the fourth full which Zadran launched over long-off for six more. 17 runs from it. Afghanistan 102/3 in 17 Overs, chasing 128.

BOOM. Najibullah Zadran is turning on the heat in Sharjah. With his third six of the innings, Zadran brings up Afghanistan;s 100 in 16.4 Overs, in chase of 128.

Another productive over for Afghanistan. Najibullah Zadran says hello by smoking Mahedi Hasan for the first six of the innings. 9 runs from it. Score 85/3 in 16 Overs, chasing 128.

Just the kind of over Afghanistan wanted at this stage. Ibrahim Zadran has crashed two fours in the over of Taskin Ahmed. The first was steered past point after Tasking dropped one short and the was driven through covers for a four. 11 runs from it. Afghanistan 76/3 in 15 Overs, chasing 128.

Just three runs in the over of Mahedi Hasan. Afghanistan are struggling to score boundaries now. The required run-rate is inching closer to 11 now. Score 65/3 in 14 Overs, chasing 128. They need a couple of big overs.

WICKET! Another big wicket for Bangladesh. Pacer Mohammad Saifuddin strikes in his first over by trapping Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi lbw on 8. This one was plumb and Nabi wanted to review it before opting against it. Afghanistan 62/3 in 12.6 Overs, chasing 128.

Bangladesh captain is through his four overs of the contest. Just three runs from his final over. He took 1/13. Afghanistan 57/2 in 12 Overs, chasing 128.

Taskin Ahmed back into action. His first five deliveries resulted in just two singles but his final was down the leg-side and all Mohammad Nabi had to do was glance it to fine leg for four. 6 runs from it. Afghanistan 54/2 in 11 Overs, chasing 128.

WICKET! A big blow to Afghanistan this. Mosaddek Hossain continues to make the difference for Bangladesh tonight. This time he has trapped Hazratullah Zazai LBW on 23. A flat delivery from the spinner and Zazai missed the shot to be struck on the pad. It was given out LBW but Zazai review. Ball tracker predicted it would have hit the stumps. Score 45/2 in 9.2 Overs, chasing 128.

Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman is back into the attack. And his fifth delivery is short which Hazratulah Zazai smashes through covers for a welcome boundary. 8 runs from the over. Afghanistan 45/1 in 9 Overs, chasing 128.

Offspinner Mosaddek Hossain introduced. He was the top-scorer for Bangladesh and singlehandedly provided some respectability to their total. Just two runs off his first over. Afghanistan 37/1 in 8 Overs, chasing 128.

Taskin Ahmed brought into the attack after the fielding restrictions have been removed. He did well for his first four deliveries but off his fifth, offered some width which Ibrahim Zadran crashed over point for his first boundary. 6 runs from the over. Afghanistan 35/1 in 7 Overs, chasing 128.

Mahedi Hasan continues. Some runs for Afghanistan in the final over of Powerplay. The over began with Hazratullah Zazai getting an inside-edge that evaded everyone for four. And then Zazai showed his power by muscling one past the bowler for a four. 10 runs from the over. Afghanistan 29/1 in 6 Overs, chasing 128.

WICKET! An early breakthrough for Bangladesh. Just the start they wanted. Rahmanullah Gurbaz wanted to break free and stepped out. Cleve fox Shakib dragged back his length and the ball sneaked past the batter with the wicketkeeper doing the rest. He scored 11. Afghanistan 15/1 in 4.1 Overs, chasing 128.

Right-arm offspinner Mahedi Hasan into the attack now. Four runs in his first over take Afghanistan to 15/0 in 4 Overs, chasing 128.

Shakib Al Hasan keeps him into the attack and allows just four singles in his second over. He could have ended with a wicket had Mahmudullah held onto a catch at long-on. Afghanistan 11/0 in 3 Overs, chasing 128.

DROPPED! Rahmanullah Gurbaz takes the aerial route and sends the ball towards long-on where Mahmudullah did get his hands to the ball but failed to hold onto the catch.

Overpitched and Rahmanullah Gurbaz launches it over Mustafizur Rahman’s head for a four. Five runs from the over. Afghanistan 7/0 in 2 Overs, chasing 128.

Bangladesh fielders seemed quite confident that they have gotten rid of Hazratullah Zazai via run out. Replays showed Zazai was well inside when the ball crash-landed on the stumps. 2 runs from the first over. Afghanistan 2/0 in 1 Over, chasing 128.

Hazratullah Zazai and Rahmanullah Gurbaz are out in the middle for Afghanistan. They will start the chase of 128. Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has the new ball and will open the attack. Here we go.

A wide yorker from Azmatullah Omarzai and Mosaddek Hossain left it alone hoping it to be declared wide but umpire judged it as a legal delivery. A dot ball to end the innings as Bangladesh finish with 127/7 in 20 Overs after opting to bat first.

WICKET! A quick bouncer from Azmatullah Omarzai which surprised Mahedi Hasan as he failed to get any connection. However, Mosaddek Hossain wanted a single and had reached the striker’s end as wicketkeeper collected and threw the ball to the bowler. Mahedi sacrificed himself. He scored 14. Bangladesh 127/7 in 19.5 Overs.

After five singles, Mahedi Hasan bids goodbye to Fazalhaq Farooqi by scooping the final delivery for a four. 9 runs from it. Bangladesh 120/6 in 19 Overs.

Naveen-ul-Haq tastes some success by bowling wide yorkers at the start of his final over but became predictable as he seemed to solely rely on them with Mosaddek Hossain opening the face of his bat to steer another wide yorker to third man for four. 8 runs in it. Bangladesh 111/6 in 18 Overs.

A boundary to Mosaddek Hossain in the third over of Fazalhaq Farooqi and he moves to 37 off 22. Mahedi Hasan has joined him in the middle. Hossain will be the key to Bangladesh finishing with a fighting total. Score 103/6 in 17 Overs.

A full toss from Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mosaddek Hossain feasts on it by guiding it to third man for four and takes the score past the 100-run mark.

Rashid Khan’s spell finishes on a sour note with Mosaddek Hossain punishing the leggie for straying down the leg-side by guiding it to fine leg for a four. 8 runs and a wicket in it. Rashid finishes with 3/22. Bangladesh 95/6 in 16 Overs.

WICKET! Rashid Khan continue to put dents in Bangladesh’s innings. A legspinner and Mahmudullah went for an aerial sweep. Got a top-edge with Ibrahim Zadran running forward and putting in a forward dive to take an excellent catch. Mahmudullah scored 25 off 27. Bangladesh 89/6 in 15.4 Overs.