Afghans win by 32 runs

Afghanistan picked up their historic victory defeating tigers by 32 runs in their second Asia Cup 2014 match at Khan Saheb Ali Stadium in Fatullah today.

It was their first ODI victory against a Test-playing nation and the 17th ODI win overall.

The hosts scored 222 runs losing all wickets as they chased a 255-run target posted by the underdog Afghanistan.

Tigers lost both the openers for just 1 run after Afghanistan proved their warrior skills scoring 254 runs.

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim was sent back to the pavilion unexpectedly after his 23 runs off 42 balls while he was on a repair job along with Mominul Haque.

Mominul too was dismissed in the wake of his half century off 72 balls.

Nasir Hossain left the crease with his personal 41 runs off 60 balls giving a catch to Samiullah Shenwari in a delivery by Mirwais Ashraf smashing the last hope of thousands of audience in the gallery.

After Nasir succumbed, in a span of 15 minutes, Bangladesh lost three more consecutive wickets thanks to the solid strike of Afghans.

Ziaur Rahman's consecutive boundary strikes won the tigers 44 runs off 22 balls.

After the fall of the Afghan top-order, middle-order batsmen Asghar Stanikzai and Samiullah Shenwari put a heavy resistance and kept the run-wheel rolling.

In the fifth-wicket partnership the duo scored 164 runs off only 138 deliveries.

Shenwari and Stanikzai added 81 and 90 runs respectively.

Stanikzai remained unbeaten till the end of Afghan innings.

Slow left arm bowler Mominul Haque picked up two wickets for the Tigers.

Bangladesh gave away 17 extra runs.

Spinner Sohag Gazi was injured just after he bowled three balls.

The hosts played the match without the ace trio -- Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mashrafe Mortaza while Afghan’s ace player Noor Ali Zadran was also absent in the first XI.

State-run Bangladesh Television and private satellite channel, Channel 9 are broadcasting the match live from 2:00pm local time, (GMT 8:00am).

Tamim and Mashrafe, who are injured, remained out of the first XI while Shakib is facing his final stay-out of a three One Day International ban.

As Bangladesh have lost their first Asia Cup match against the defending world champion India, today’s match is a must-win for the host to stay in the tournament’s race.

Meanwhile, playing with Asia’s big boys, Afghanistan, with a strong bowling line-up that tied Pakistan within 248 runs in their first match of the contest, is looking forward for a positive result.

The batting line-up of the Tigers will be depending on the skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, who is not in his best physical shape today due to injury; opener Anamul Haque, who scored a glorious knock of 77 runs against India; and the middle-orders -- Mominul Haque and Nasir Hossain.

Spinners Sohag Gazi and Abdur Razzak have taken extra responsibilities as Mashrafe is off for the game.

Another lefty spinner, Arafat Sunny, has been replaced Mashrafe for today’s match.

Tigers’ fans however are looking forward for a smooth victory against the Afghans.

Bangladesh XI

Shamsur Rahman, Anamul Haque (wk), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (c), Nasir Hossain, Naeem Islam, Ziaur Rahman, Sohag Gazi, Abdur Razzak, Arafat Sunny, Rubel Hossain

Afghanistan XI

Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Karim Sadiq, Asghar Stanikzai, Nawroz Mangal, Mohammad Nabi( c), Samiullah Shenwari, Najibullah Zadran, Mirwais Ashraf, Hamid Hassan, Shapoor Zadran, Hamza Hotak