Afghans win, square series

Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh by 2 wickets with 2 balls remaining to square the 3-match ODI series. The fifth wicket stand between Mohammad Nabi and Asghar Stanikzai took their team close to the target.

Late flurry of wickets only added drama but the Afghans were never behind the eight ball. They didn't have the scoreboard pressure to deal with, could see out the difficult times and wait for the bad ball to make up for the dots.

Asghar was the highest scorer for his side, and contributed with 57 runs from 95 balls. His prudent knock contained four boundaries and two sixes. He was ably supported by man-of-the-match Mohammad Nabi who made 49 from 61. Nabi took two wickets for 16 in 10 brilliant overs.

For Bangladesh, Shakib took a four-for in this losing cause. He captured four wickets for 47 in 10 overs. Debutant Mosaddek showed his value as an allrounder with two wickets for 30.

Najibullah Zadran was the last Afghan wicket to fall. He was picked up for 22 by Taskin in the last over.

The fifth wicket stand between Afghanistan captain Asghar Stanikzai and Mohammad Nabi kept their side in the chase of 209 against Bangladesh in the second game of the 3-match series at Mirpur.

Experienced Afghan allrounder Mohammad Nabi and captain Asghar Stanikzai batted sensibly to keep Bangladesh bowlers at bay while chipping away at their target. Their stand reached 87 runs in 20.5 overs.

Afghanistan were rocked early in their chase of 209 when Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan grabbed two wickets in the fourth over under the lights.

Chasing 209, Afghanistan got off to a shaky start as both Nawroz Mangal and Rahmat Shah were victims of Shakib's left-arm spin in the fourth over.

Rahmat was foxed by Shakib's arm ball as the batter could not deal with the drift and pace of the delivery. Rahmat was struck on the back pad in line with the stumps and was out for a duck.

Nawroz was the first Afghan wicket to fall when he chipped his drive to Taijul at short –extra cover. Shakib tossed up the ball outside off and it stopped on the batter. Nawroz was dismissed for 10 runs.

Earlier, Bangladesh managed to put up 208 on the board losing all their wickets mainly due to the heroic knock from debutant Mosaddek Hossain in the second game of the 3-match ODI series against Afghanistan at Mirpur.

Mosaddek Hossain showed why he is considered so highly by his peers, and batted sensibly when the chips were down to give his side something to defend. He scored 45 from 45 balls, and struck four boundaries and two sixes in his knock.

For Afghanistan, the spinners made the difference as Mohammad Nabi, Rashid and Rahmat Shah took six wickets among them. Nabi took two for 16 in 10 overs while Rashid grabbed 3-35.

Rubel Hossain was the last Bangladeshi wicket to fall when he was run out in the last over.

Rashid Khan ran rings around Bangladeshi batters with his leg-spin and made life extremely difficult for right-handers and lefties alike. In the 43rd over, He took two wickets in successive balls to dent Tigers' chances of a decent total.

Taskin Ahmed was lbw in the first ball he faced as Rashid's flipper pitched within the wickets and caught the Taskin napping.

Taijul Islam became Rashid's second victim of the game. Afghan leggie's flipper held its line after pitching and Taijul failed to make contact. Taijul scored 10 but gave Mosaddek company for some vital runs late in the innings.

Bangladesh found themselves in a spot of bother as Afghanistan came back into the contest with three crucial wickets in quick time during the second game of the 3-match ODI series at Mirpur.

Tigers captain Mashrafe could not hold himself back with the spinners bowling in tandem. He tried to clear mid-off when Mohammad Nabi came to bowl, but only managed to miss-time his shot down the throat of Dawlat Zadran. Mashrafe lasted only 10 balls.

Bangladesh lost their sixth wicket inside 33 overs when Sabbir Rahman was trapped in front by leggie Rashid Khan. Sabbir was all at sea whe facing the leg-spinner, and could hardly pick Rashid Khan's variations. The googly was the bane in the end for Sabbir, as he was sent back only four runs.

Shakib's wicket changed the complexion of the match and Afghan bowlers got a spring in their steps after they saw the back of the allrounder. Mohammad Nabi outfoxed Shakib in the air with the arm ball, Shakib was rooted to the crease and was struck in front. Tigers allrounder was timing the ball well in his knock of 17 runs from 21 balls.

The onus to build a partnership falls on Shakib Al Hasan as the allrounder comes to the crease after the 61-run stand between Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah in 12.5 overs is broken by Naveen-ul-Haq of Afghanistan.

Shakib must thank his stars as he was dropped by Afghan keeper Mohammad Shahzad in the very first ball he faced from Rahmat Shah.

Mahmudullah didn't look too comfortable on the low, slow wicket offering some turn to finger or wrist spinners alike. Tigers batsman made 25 from 39 with three boundaries to his name.

Bangladesh batsmen Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim stopped the rot with some aggressive strokeplay after the loss of Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar in the second game of the 3-match ODI series against Afghanistan at Mirpur Stadium.

Both Mushy and Mahmudullah were selective in the shot making and didn't miss out on any loose balls. By pushing the fielders, they kept rotating the strike with ones and twos.

Bangladesh were rocked in the 13th over when Soumya Sarkar played one big shot too many and was caught at deep cover. Soumya came down the track, slogged hard, hardly had any control and spooned the ball to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Soumya scored 20 from 31 balls in his effortless style but failed to carry on.

Tigers enjoyed a decent start but Tamim could not capitalize on his start, and was dismissed inside 11 overs when 45 runs were on the board. Tamim flayed at a shortish ball from Mirwais Ashraf, got a healthy edge that was taken safely at third-man by Dawlat Zadran.

Tamim was less fluent than his partner Soumya, and managed to score 20 from 36 balls with three fours to the fence.

Earlier, Afghanistan captain won the toss and opted to bowl first given the slightly muggy overhead conditions at Mirpur.

Bangladesh

Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mosaddek Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicketkeeper), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Mashrafe Mortaza(Captain), Taskin Ahmed, Taijul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Nasir Hossain and Shafiul Islam

Afghanistan

Mohammad Shahzad (Wicketkeeper), Nawroz Mangal, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Stanikzai (Captain), Hashmatullah Shahidi, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mirwais Ashraf, Dawlat Zadran, Naveen-ul-Haq, Ihsanullah, Fareed Ahmad, Karim Janat, Samiullah Shenwari and Amir Hamza