With both teams already assured of a place in the last four, both teams would have regarded this as an excellent opportunity for match practice ahead of the matches to come against India and Pakistan. However, it is the Afghans who will feel much the happier afterwards. Bangladesh have a lot of work to do in the nets.
Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first in Abu Dhabi, although they lost an early wicket when Ihsanullah was caught by Mohammad Mithun off the bowling of Abu Hider for 8.
Hider then got his second wicket when he bowled Tahmat Shah for 10, but Mohammad Shahzad and his captain Ashgar Afghan put on 51, before the opener fell for 37 to the bowling of Shakib al Hasan. Hashmatulah Shahidi and his captain Ashgar Afghan then added 24, before Afghan was bowled by Shakib for 8.
Samullah Shenwari then combined with Shahidi in a stand of 38, before Shenwari became the all-rounder’s third wicket and then Shahidi, having compiled a patient 58, was caught off the bowling of Rubel Hossain for 58. Shakib then finished off his spell by having Mohammad Nabi leg before for 10, as Afghanistan subsided to 160/7.
At that stage Bangladesh were hoping to restrict the Afghans to a low score, but matters were turned on their head by the 8th wicket partnership between Gulbadin Naib and Rashid Khan. Together the pair added an unbeaten 95 off the last 9 overs, which saw then attack the bowling with aggression and determination.
Naib scored 42 of 38 balls, whilst Rashid outscored him, smashing 57 off just 32 balls, including one six. The pair helped their side to a very competitive 255 – 7 which scarcely had seemed possible before the pair came to the crease.
Bangladesh needed to get off to good start with their run chase, but they didn’t get one. First they lost opener Nazmul Shanto in the 4th over caught by Alam off the bowling of Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and, then, in the next over, his partner Liton Das lbw to Aftab Alam. Monimul Haque and Shakib offered brief resistance, but Monimul was caught by Shahzad off the bowling of Gulbadin for 9, who then followed up with the wicket of Mithun.
Shakib and Mahmadullah looked to consolidate but their stand of 31 was broken when Shakib was lbw to Rashid for 32. Then the bowler struck again, bowling Mahmudullah for 27, as Bangladesh found themselves 90 – 6. Next it was Zurmutal’s turn to strike, having Mehedi Hasan caught for just 4. Captain Mashrafe Mortaza then was out for a duck, as his side slid closer to defeat.
Mosaddek Hossdain hit a defiant 26 not out, but then Hider was run out, and last man Rubel was lbw to Mujeeb for a duck as Bangladesh were bowled out for 119.
Rashid Khan with his superb half century and bowling of 2 for 13 was deservedly man of the match.