Asia Cup 2018, Super 4 Match 4- Bangladesh vs Afghanistan- Mustafizur was Like a Magician in the Final Over: Mashrafe Mortaza

Bangladesh kept their hopes alive in the Asia Cup as they registered a sensational 3 runs victory against Afghanistan in the 4^th match of Super 4 in the Asia Cup 2018. It was a great all-round effort by Bangladesh as they held their nerves and completed a thrilling victory. Mustafizur Rahman bowled a sensational final over as Bangladesh clinched a nerve wracking victory from the jaws of defeat.

After batting first Bangladesh got off to the worst possible start. They lost their first 5 wickets for just 87 runs. It was a great bowling effort by Afghanistan to restrict Bangladesh in the initial stages of the innings. Comeback man Imrul Kayes and Mahmudullah shared a brilliant partnership of 128 runs which got Bangladesh back on track.

Afghanistan lost narrowly by 3 runs to Bangladesh

Liton Das had begun the innings with a good knock of 41 runs of 43 deliveries. However, it was Imrul Kayes and Mahmudullah who looked in great touch and revived the Bangladesh innings. Kayes scored 72 of 89 deliveries which were studded with 6 fours. Mahmudullah, on the other hand, looked at the attacking partner of the two. He scored 74 of 81 deliveries which included 3 fours and a couple of sixes. It was due to their brilliant partnership that Bangladesh eventually managed to score 249 in their allotted 50 overs.

Afghanistan got the first couple of wickets pretty cheaply as they were reduced to 26/2. Mohammad Shehzad played a good knock of 54 runs and looked in good touch. Yet again it was Hashmatullah Shahidi who looked in very good touch and scored yet another half-century. Courtesy his knock of 71 runs of 99 deliveries, Afghanistan looked well set to complete a famous victory.

Mohammad Nabi also looked in great touch and looked in great touch during his knock of 38 of 28 deliveries which included a couple of fours and sixes each. It was a match-winning final over by Mustafizur Rahman. The left-arm seamer defended just 8 runs in the final over to hand Bangladesh a come from behind victory by 3 runs.

Here is what winning skipper Mashrafe Mortaza said at the post-match presentation

At the end of the game, Mustafizur was like a magician. It was difficult to defend 8 runs. Credit goes to Mustafizur. Not at all (that we felt like losing). Shakib bowled a good 49th over. But it was Mahmudullah and Kayes, playing his first game, set it up for us with the bat. Mustafizur was cramping a bit in the middle, we wanted him to bowl 10 overs but he couldn’t. It is hot and a tough job. A win like this always gives confidence and the game against Pakistan is like a semifinal.