Bangladesh have put another horror show by the vaunted middle-order behind them to edge out Afghanistan in a thriller and stay in the hunt for their first Asia Cup glory.
Afghanistan looked set to send the Tigers packing in their second Super Four match in Abu Dhabi on Sunday but for a brilliant last over by Mustafizur Rahman, in which they needed only 8 runs.
Having come into the Super Four unbeaten, they fell short by three runs, and were themselves knocked out of the Asia Cup after their narrow loss to Pakistan in another close match on Saturday.
Back from the brink after two disastrous batting performances on the trot, Bangladesh will take on Pakistan on Wednesday to decide who will face India in the final.
The Indians handed their arch-rivals a nine-wicket drubbing in the other Super Four match of the day.
In Abu Dhabi, the Afghans lost Rashid Khan, who scored a fifty in their huge win over the Tigers on Thursday, in the second delivery of the final over after he took two off the first.
He then tried to pull a short one but chipped it back to Mustafizur.
It was then up to Samiullah Shenwari and Gulbadin Naib to take their team over the line.
But Shenwari managed one leg bye off the third ball. When Mustafizur’s offcutter beat Naib and fifth delivery produced another leg bye, Afghanistan needed 4 off the last ball.
Shenwari could only throw his bat at a short one that skidded across and failed to connect, triggering wild celebrations by Bangladesh players.
Before Mustafiz’s devastating spell, Shakib Al Hasan took out danger man Mohammad Nabi, who made 38 off 28.
Asghar Afghan (39) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (71) tilted the tie greatly towards Afghanistan by stitching an impressive 78-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza – who bled 62 off his 10 overs, the most by a Bangladesh bowler – made amends to remove both batsmen at crucial moments.
Mashrafe was due to bowl the 46th over, but he gave the ball to Mustafizur to squeeze three overs out of him, which would prove decisive in the end.
Shahidi had steadied the ship with a 63-run partnership with opener Mohammad Shahzad (53) after the team lost Ihsanullah (8) and Rahmat Shah (1).
Mahmudullah, who had shone with bat, broke the Shahidi-Shahzad stand by bowling the latter in the 25th over.
Mohammad Nabi (38) and Samiullah Shenwari (23 not out) produced a quick-fire 46 runs for the sixth wicket but that was not enough as they ended with 246 for seven chasing 250.
Debutant spinner Nazmul Islam Apu helped push the required rate higher by bowling a tight line to give away 29 runs off his 8 overs.
Earlier, Mahmudullah and Imrul Kayes resurrected the Bangladesh innings with fighting half-centuries after yet another batting collapse.
Their inspiring 128-run partnership took the team total to 249 for 7 in 50 overs.
Mahmudullah hit three boundaries and two sixes for his 74 off 81 before being caught by Rashid off Aftab Alam in the 47th over.
Kayes, who was flown to Abu Dhabi after the batting failure against India in the first Super Four match on Friday, hit six fours in his calculative, unbeaten 72 off 89.
Kayes played his last One-Day International during the South Africa tour in October last year. He was recalled following consecutive failures of injured Tamim Iqbal’s replacements.
After deciding to bat first, Bangladesh unravelled again as they kept losing quick wickets early.
At the top, only Liton Das could make his presence felt with a 41-run innings as the Tigers had lost two early wickets again in the powerplay to put the middle order under pressure.
Liton (41) and Mushfiqur Rahim (33) attempted to rebuild the innings with a 63-run stand, but youngster Rashid had Liton’s back in the 19th over when the opener looked to sweep.
Shakib, who had come in at No 5 to negate Rashid’s threat, was run out in just his second ball for a duck.
He flicked it on to midwicket, called but Mushfiqur asked him to go back as there was no run. Shakib slipped as he looked to turn and Shenwari’s direct hit caught him short.
An over later, Bangladesh suffered a double blow when Mushfiqur went for a suicidal single. Kayes worked the ball in front of square leg and Mushfiqur called for the run.
According to bdnews24 news agency, he was halfway down the track when Kayes sent him back. When Rashid took the bails off from Nabi’s throw, the batsman was not even in the frame.
The pace trio of Aftab Alam, Mujeeb ur Rahman and Naib had succeeded in keeping them under a tight leash with disciplined line and length.
Opener Shanto (6) and one-down Mohammad Mithun (1) were out in the fifth and sixth over respectively.
