BAN vs AFG: Afghanistan Move Up To Fourth Place In ICC World Cup Super League Table

Afghanistan have moved up to the No.4 position on the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League table after their consolation victory against Bangladesh in the final ODI match on Monday.

Afghanistan spinners Rashid Khan (3/37) and Mohammad Nabi (2/29) routed Bangladesh’s batting unit as the hosts were bowled out for 192 in 46.5 overs. Bangladesh opener Liton Das was the lone warrior to struggle against Afghanistan bowlers at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram.

Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by seven wickets in the third ODI

Das scored 86 off 113 balls with seven boundaries before he was caught by Gulbadin Naib off Nabi’s bowling in the 36th over. Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (30) was the second-highest run-scorer in the first innings.

Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz remained unbeaten on 106 as the visitors clinched a seven-wicket victory to deny Bangladesh an opportunity to whitewash in the three-match ODI series.

Gurbaz smashed seven boundaries and four big sixes at a strike rate of 96.36 and was involved in a 100-run stand with Rahmat Shah, who made 47, for the second-wicket stand. Afghanistan lost the first two ODI matches by four wickets and 88 runs respectively.

These ten points will make our future a little bit easier: Hashmatullah Shahidi

Afghanistan have earned 70 points in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League by defeating West Indies and Ireland earlier, and bagged 10 points after the win against Bangladesh in the final ODI.

“Every game was important for us in this ODI series. We were disappointed in the first two games, but that happens in cricket. These ten points will make our future a little bit easier (as far as advancing to World Cup is concerned),” Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi told reporters after the game.

“He is a match-winner (Rahmanullah Gurbaz). Whenever he gets a start, he makes it bigger. We have a bundle of youngsters in the team. Ibrahim Zadran is technically really good. Riaz Hassan gave us a good start today. I am sure they will all play well for Afghanistan in the future,” Shahidi added. 

Afghanistan will play a couple of T20 matches against Bangladesh on March 3 and March 5 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

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