BAN VS AFG - 6th Match, Group B, Asia Cup 2018

It was great to see Afghanistan absorb pressure and take the game deep with the bat in hand. They didn't throw their wickets when the going was tough and cashed in later. That's how you are rewarded if you are patient. Sri Lanka on Monday, Bangladesh on Thursday. Gee, this team has a story to tell almost every game they play and their rise is so good to watch. They are looking good to carry the distance in the tournament, which enters the Super Four phase tomorrow. It's a double-header Friday coming our way. India will play Bangladesh in Dubai, while Afghanistan will meet Pakistan here. Exciting cricket in store for all us. See you all in a few hours. Goodbye!

Saurav: "Sachin's sandstorm innings on his birthday, and today Rashid's performance. Both in UAE. Take a bow Mr. Rashid Khan."

Rashid Khan, Man of the Match: It was a special day for me and I am really happy as I contributed in batting, bowling and fielding. We have worked hard for this and we want to continue this form. I wanted to bat till the end. I wanted to focus on each and every ball. I had good preparation in the practice session. The way they fielded was amazing. We have been working hard on our fielding as it can win the matches for you. It is all about luck in batting and bowling but fielding is one thing that is totally in our hands and we wanted to get better. I come late to bowl because I can bowl dot balls and put the pressure on the batsmen. I think the wicket changes behaviour here every match so we look to stay positive in our approach. We don't want to focus too much on result. We just want to give our 100% on field. I want to dedicate this Man of the Match award to ex-chairman of Afghanistan cricket Atif Mashal, he has done a great job for Afghanistan cricket in the past few years.

Asghar Afghan, winning skipper: It was a very important game for us. We gave two top-order wickets very easily and even our middle-order was poor. We weren't finishing well in the last few matches but Rashid and Naib in the last 7-8 overs finished very well today. If we put 230+ runs on the board it will be difficult for the opposition team as we have good fielding and extremely good bowling. If my Physio clears me fit then I will play tomorrow. I want to thank crowd for their support.

255 was always a good total with the pitch not being a batting beauty. Aftab Alam and Naib made life difficult for Bangladesh by moving the ball around and Afghanistan always had enough mystery in their tweakers. Just three batsmen could get to double digits as Mujeeb, Naib and Rashid bagged two wickets apiece.

Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh Captain: I think Afghanistan outplayed us from the 40th over in the first innings. Our batting was not up to the mark and the bowling in last 10 overs was poor. We have to be fresh for tomorrow's big match. It is hard to recover from the heat and back to back matches. Hopefully we will come up with something better tomorrow and play hard. Tamim is going back home. Mushy had a good rest, Mustafizur is coming back from an injury as well so they will play tomorrow since it is a game of consequence.

What a day for Rashid Khan. He turned 20 today. Blasted a 31-ball fifty to propel Afghanistan to a good total, then bagged two wickets for almost nothing and then effected a brilliant run-out as well. More importantly, a great game for Afghanistan. Mind you, in the evening, Bangladesh were bossing the game. Their bowlers were very disciplined and the Afghan top-order found the going very tough. Shahidi held one end tight, but it was that 95-run partnership off 55 balls between Naib and Rashid that proved to be the game changer.

Mujeeb to Rubel, out Lbw!! Oh the umpire has raised the finger and this is a massive win - by 136 runs - for Afghanistan despite posting only 255. Googly from Mujeeb, Rubel stays back and tries to defend, hit on the pad, question of will it miss the leg stump, but umpire Nitin Menon thought about it and ruled Rubel out. HawkEye supports the on-field call by showing the ball hitting a good part of leg stump. Rubel lbw b Mujeeb 0(1)

Mujeeb to Rubel, THATS OUT!! Lbw!!

Mujeeb Ur Rahman [8.0-1-22-1] is back into the attack

Shahzad has a few for Rubel. All ends with a smile

Rashid Khan to Mosaddek Hossain, no run, googly very full, Mosaddek defends

Rubel Hossain, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Rashid Khan to Mosaddek Hossain, out Abu Hider Run Out!! Mosaddek backs away and slaps this full ball to the left of the bowler... Oh hang on, there's a runout here. You can't stop him on his birthday. Bats, bowls and fields brilliantly too. Rashid Khan moved to his left in his followthrough to half stop the ball, the batsmen are stranded in the middle after initially attempting a run. Mosaddek sent his partner back, but Rashid rushed to the ball running back and fired a direct-hit at the bowler's end despite being off balance. Abu Hider run out (Rashid Khan) 1(11)

Rashid Khan to Mosaddek Hossain, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!

Suresh Patel: "My love for Cricbuzz increases day by day due to its Harry Potter comments!" - You're looking at a bunch of Potterheads leading the way :P. Anyway, back to the cricket.

Rashid Khan to Mosaddek Hossain, no run, nicely slowed up googly on the off stump, forward pressed by the batsman

Rashid Khan to Mosaddek Hossain, no run, stays back and guides it to backward point

Rashid Khan to Mosaddek Hossain, no run, the skidder that kicks up off the deck and beats Mosaddek's attempted cut, half shout for caught behind

Rashid Khan to Mosaddek Hossain, no run, very full and on the stumps, Mosaddek digs it out to short mid-wicket

Harsha Bhogle: Not just the top T20 bowler but now laying claim to being called an all-rounder. Way to go, young man Rashid Khan.

Nabi to Abu Hider, no run, stays back and punches it to the left of the bowler

Nabi to Abu Hider, no run, defended straight back to the bowler