BAN VS AFG - 3rd Match, Group B, Asia Cup 2022

The template of chasing and winning in the UAE has come good again. Bangladesh tried to alter the narrative by opting to bat first. But they limped to 127. That sort of handicapped them. Afghanistan looked like pushing the envelope a little too much but got bailed out of trouble by Najibullah towards the end of the chase. So, this group has a simple equation now. Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka and the winner makes it to the next round. The battle for Asia will continue and we will be there to cover every nitty gritty for you. See ya guys. This is Kumar D in company of Vineet A, Saurabh S and Naga K signing off. 

Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Player of the Match: I would congratulate my team and the entire nation. My strength is to bowl with the new ball. I have played before in Sharjah. All my plan was to bowl wicket to wicket and that worked for me.

Mohammad Nabi: Everyone knows both Mujeeb and Rashid are world class bowlers. They again showed their talent and ability. We plan to take early wickets to be ahead in the game. Everyone knows that we have power hitters in our team. We finished the game really well. Gurbaz tried a lot but couldn't hit them well. Shakib bowled brilliantly.

Shakib Al Hasan: It is always tough when you lose 4 wickets in the first 7-8 overs. We were in the game for the first 14-15 overs. Credit to Afghanistan. In a T20 game, whoever is standing up for the team should it take it till the end. Mosaddek played well but we needed more contributions, We knew Najibullah is a dangerous batsman. We thought we had the game when they needed 60 odd in the last 6 overs. But credit to Najibullah.

Najibullah Zadran: The wicket was a bit low so I tried to play straight. I took a few balls and played my natural game then after that. I don't look at the boundary. I just look at the bowler and look to hit.

21:08 Local Time, 17:08 GMT, 22:38 IST: Afghanistan have done it. It looked a little shaky at the half-way stage of this innings but Najibullah and Ibrahim Zadran just laid to rest every hope that Bangladesh had. The barrage of sixes from Najibullah were massive statements dished out by Afghanistan to other teams. They trampled Sri Lanka and have now humbled Bangladesh. Some credit to Bangladesh for making a game out of only 127. Their batting let them down but their bowlers were pretty good. Zazai, Gurbaz and Nabi found it tough to score quickly. Ibrahim Zadran played the role of the anchor. But it was Najibullah who delivered the killer punches just when it mattered.

Mosaddek Hossain to Najibullah, SIX, straight down the ground for a sixer. Fuller one and Najibullah creams it down the ground to make it to the Super Fours. Afghanistan win by 7 wickets and become the first team to make it to the Super Fours

Mosaddek Hossain to Ibrahim Zadran, 1 run, drops the ball short and has been pulled down to deep square for a single

Mosaddek Hossain to Ibrahim Zadran, no run, clips a flighted delivery to mid-wicket

Mosaddek Hossain [2.0-0-5-1] is back into the attack

Saifuddin to Najibullah, SIX, and biffed away over long-off! That was fuller, Najibullah gets under it and slams it over long-off. This man has been brilliant. Only 4 needed now. The 37 from Najibullah has five hits over the fence. In a span of 15-20 minutes, they have delivered the K.O punch

Saifuddin to Najibullah, SIX, what was that? A hybrid between a pull and a scoop which goes miles over fine leg. Banged in short, Najibullah used the pace and those rubber wrists to send it away

Chethan C R: Taking the pace off is the key in this track... Bangladesh somehow has to find 2 more spin overs from someone...

Saifuddin to Najibullah, wide, fifty up for the duo off only 31 balls. That was fuller, wider, Najibullah lets it go for it to be wided

Saifuddin to Najibullah, no run, looks to slog it across the line and inside edges the ball on to the pads. The shoulders have dropped a bit in the Bangladesh camp

Saifuddin to Najibullah, FOUR, length delivery, cross batted swipe and that beats the man at long-on with elan. Those powerful hands come into play

Saifuddin to Ibrahim Zadran, 1 run, back of a length delivery, Ibrahim Zadran tucks that down into the on-side for a single. Over to Najibullah for further damage. Last 20 balls have gone for 42 runs

Saifuddin to Ibrahim Zadran, FOUR, fuller length delivery on the pads, Ibrahim Zadran clips the ball away stylishly to send it away from deep mid. The wheels are coming off for Bangladesh now. 22 needed off 17 balls

Mohammad Saifuddin [1.0-0-5-1] is back into the attack

Mustafizur to Ibrahim Zadran, 1 run, slower delivery outside off and Ibrahim Zadran leans into the drive to send it to deep cover for a single. 26 for Afghanistan to seal a spot in the top four and also be the first team to do so

Mustafizur to Najibullah, 1 run, slices one outside off and the ball lands well short of the man at deep cover. That was mistimed and hence fell well short else would have been a problem. 27 needed now