Afghanistan level series in nail-biting finish

They had the Tigers in a corner in the first ODI, but had a nervous breakdown towards the end and failed to cross the finish line.

However, on Tuesday evening the Afghans were given yet another opportunity to score a rare win over a Test nation and much to the delight of the thousands of people who flocked to the streets of Kabul to watch their heroes on huge screens set up just for this series, this time they did not fold under the pressure.

If Bangladesh's batting faltered in the last ten overs during the first ODI, they failed to click right from the start in the second.

Had it not been for a timely 45 by debutant Mosaddek Hossain, which inspired a 43-run stand for the last wicket, the hosts wouldn't have even crossed the 200-run mark.

A disciplined performance from Afghanistan's bowlers, especially their spinners, helped the visitors bundle the hosts out for just 208 in 49.2 overs in the second ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today. 

In reply, a brilliant fifth-wicket partnership worth 107 runs for the fifth wicket by Afghanistan's most experienced players -- Mohammad Nabi and their skipper Asghar Stanikzai -- helped them level the series with a two-wicket win and delayed Bangladesh's '100th win party.'

After posting 208, Bangladesh began well. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza brought in his trump card, Shakib Al Hasan, as early as the second over and the left-armer replied by removing Nawroz Mangal with just the fourth ball of the fourth over. Mangal's attempted drive through the covers ballooned off the bat and fell easily into the hands of the short cover fielder.

Two balls later he got Rahmat Shah, the hero of the first ODI, trapped in front. He was a bit lucky there as replays suggested that there was an inside edge on that one.

Hashmatullah Shahidi was then removed in the 14th over off Mosaddek Hossain's first ball in an ODI. He was trapped in front as well. That was followed by Shakib getting rid of the ever-present Mohammad Shahzad, who tried to play an awkward inside-out hit and got caught at point in the process.

By the 16th over Afghanistan were struggling at 63 for 4.

However, that was when Nabi and Stanikzai got together. The duo initially just knocked the ball around and tried to get set. They knew that they should have won the first game for their team but had been dismissed being too aggressive.

Today they were calm as ever and did not give the Bangladeshis any chance. In between over number 16 and 26 they scored 39 cautious runs. They only went for boundaries when Rubel Hossain went off line.

Mashrafe tried everything. He used almost all the spinners available to him, but the duo stood rock solid. In between overs number 26 and 36, the duo put on just 41 more runs. They were slow, but the required run-rate was well within their reach.

In the last eleven overs, Afghanistan needed 39 runs.

While Stanikzai reached his half-century with a hook off Taskin Ahmed for a six, Nabi got out off Mashrafe in the 40th over for 49.

Akin to the last match, drama ensued once again in the last phase. Mosaddek removed Stanikzai for 57, having him caught at deep point.

Four overs later, Shakib removed Rashid Khan and got his fourth wicket, his 100th wicket in Mirpur.

With three wickets in hand, Afghanistan needed 15 runs from 24 balls. Things could have gotten even worse, but Mushfiqur missed an easy stumping off Mosaddek which would have seen Najibullah Zadran make the walk back.

With 13 required off 18 balls, Taijul Islam bowled four dot balls and the equation came down to 11 required off 12.

However, the Afghans managed to breathe again as Mirwais Ashraf smacked Mosaddek for a huge six off the second ball of the penultimate over. While Nabijullah was eventually dismissed after his earlier reprieve, it was too little too late as the visitors reached home with three balls and two wickets to spare.

The defeat, which saw Afghanistan level the three-match series at 1-1, is also expected to hurt Bangladesh in the rankings according to the ICC predictor, which shows that Bangladesh will lose three points.

Consequently, if West Indies go on to win their first game against Pakistan on Friday, they will take over Bangladesh in the seventh spot, according to the ICC predictor.

Earlier, after winning the toss under cloudy skies, the Afghan skipper elected to field first.

Both of Bangladesh's openers, Soumya Sarkar and Tamim Iqbal, seemed to be hitting the ball well, but both batsmen lost their wickets while attempting to drive up the run-rate after putting on 43 runs in the first ten overs.

Tamim attempted to hit a disciplined Mirwais across the line and produced an edge that the third man gladly accepted in the eleventh over. Two overs later, Soumya came down the track against the same bowler and tried to slog from outside off but ended up scooping one towards a fielder at cover.

Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim were then left with the task of steadying the innings and they seemed to be doing quite well on a wicket that seemed slightly more difficult than the one in the first match. The ball stayed just a touch low, but the batsmen showed patience and discipline, rotating the strike well.

Having earlier observed Bangladesh's weakness against leg-spinners, Afghan skipper Stanikzai introduced both Rahmat -- who scored a fantastic half-century in the first game -- and Rashid Khan into the attack.

While Rashid was brilliant as ever with his variations, Rahmat merely did what was asked of him, bowl loopy leg-spinners. It was a plan that compelled both Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah to stay a bit quiet.

Once the leg-spinner was taken off and pacer Naveen-ul-Haq was brought on, the pair thought that it was their opportunity to attack.

Mahmudullah tried to force Naveen for a boundary on the last ball of the 25th over which led to him inside-edging the low-lying delivery onto the stumps.

Three overs later, Mushfiqur was once again dismissed while trying to play a slog-sweep. He tried to sweep Shah for a boundary, but only managed to find the fielder in the deep and Bangladesh were suddenly struggling at 122 for 4.

With another pair of batsmen gone, Shakib and Sabbir Rahman found themselves holding down the fort and needing to build a partnership.

Shakib, off the very first ball he faced, tried to slash a turner from Shah through covers for four, but only managed to nick it. Fortunately for him, the keeper failed to grasp onto that.

He was given a let off once again, this time on 17, his attempt to hit off Mohammed Nabi through covers finding a fielder, who dropped a sitter.

However, the left-hander could not make the visitors pay as Nabi trapped him in front two balls later in the 32nd over.

Off the very next ball, the first of a new over, Sabbir Rahman was trapped by a googly from Rashid, akin to his dismissal in the first ODI.

Mohammad Nabi got captain Mashrafe in over number 34 and Bangladesh were once again struggling, this time at 141 for 7.

Taijul Islam and Mosaddek tried to build a stand, however once Rashid Khan was brought back in the 43rd over, the tail crumbled.

He first removed Taijul with a pin-point turner that landed on the middle and turned a bit to beat Taijul's defence. Off the very next ball, he removed Taskin Ahmed with a similar delivery. Rashid's double-wicket maiden had reduced Bangladesh to 165 for 9 by the 43rd over.

However Mosaddek, playing his first match started to unleash himself. The batsman, who arrived at the crease and immediately found himself with the tail, shared a 43-run stand with Rubel Hossain, the highest tenth wicket stand in a first innings for Bangladesh.

He smacked two sixes and four fours during his knock and had it not been for a run-out off the second ball of the last over, he would have scored a well-deserved half-century on his debut.