Afghanistan won the toss in Chittagong and opted to bat, a decision that appeared to be felly vindicated initially as they got on to a flyer, with openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai putting on 75 for the first wicket in less than 10 overs. Yet, the dismissal of Hazratullah for 47, who had struck 2 sixes, caught by Mustafizur Rahman off Afif Hossain, prompted a sudden collapse.
Two balls later Asghar Afghan fell to Hossain without scoring, and then Gurbaz, who had made 29, and struck 2 sixes, was caught and bowled by Mustafizur in the next over. Mohammad Nabi then fell cheaply to the Bangladesh captain Shakib-Al-Hasan, and then Gulbadin Naib was run out by Mahmudullah. Najibullah Zadran made 15, including one six, but he was bowled by Mohammad Saifuddin, and seven balls later Karim Janat was caught by Mustafizur off Shafiful Islam, reducing the Afghans to 114 – 7. It was left to the eighth wicket pair of Shaiqullah and Rashid Khan to add some late gloss with an unbeaten stand of 24, with Shafiqullah making 23 not out, including one six, and Khan unbeaten on 11, as they helped their side close on 138 – 7.
Bangladesh got off to a poor start, losing opener Liton Das in the third over, caught by Afghan off the bowling of Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Then his fellow opener, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, fell in the next over to Naveen-ul-Haq, caught by Rashid. However, Mushfiqur and Shakib staged a recovery with a stand of 58 for the third wicket, until Mushfiqur, who had made 26, including one six, was caught by Shafiqullah off the bowling of Janat.
Shakib and Mahmudullah added 23 together, but then Mahmudullah was lbw to Rashid. Sabbir Rahman was out in the next over, caught by Gurbaz off Naveen , and Bangladesh lost their sixth wicket when Afif Hossain was bowled by Rashid.
However, Shakib found the support he needed in the shape of Mosaddek Hossain, and together the pair put on an unbeaten 35 for the seventh wicket, which saw their side reach their victory target with an over to spare. Mosaddek was unbeaten on 19, but the main plaudits went to Shakib who finished on 70 not out, having cored one six and 8 fours.