Bangladesh scored 249 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in stipulated 50 overs in their Super Four encounter against Afghanistan at Abu Dhabi on Sunday in Unimoni Asia Cup 2018.
Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bat, Bangladesh got off to a slow start owing to some line and length delivery by the Afghan bowlers and the batsmen’s inability to pick up singles.
To add insult to injury, Nazmul Hossain got out for just 6 runs by playing a reckless shot.
Bangladesh then found themselves in hot soup after Mohammad Mithun got out by adding just 1 run.
After that, Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim showed some glimmer of hope of posting a good total with a 63-run partnership.
However, after Liton got out trying to heave a ball by Rashid Khan after making a useful contribution of 41 runs (43b,3x4s) Shakib Al Hasan foolishly ran himself out without troubling the scorers, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 81 for 4.
Mushfiq then followed suit by getting run out controversially for 33 runs, leaving the team in dire straits at 87/5.
Then a brilliant partnership of 128 runs between Mahmudullah and Imrul Kayes helped Bangladesh post the respectable score.
Mahmudullah got out playing a silly shot at a crucial stage for 74 runs (81b, 3x4s, 2x6s) at the team score of 215/6.
Nevertheless, Imrul Kayes’ contribution of 72* (89b, 6x4s) runs helped the Tigers achieve the fighting total.
Aftab Alam took 3 for 54, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan took 1 wicket each for 35 and 46 runs respectively.