Asia Cup 2018: Twitter Reacts As Bangladesh Recovers To Post Challenging Total Against Afghanistan

For the third game in a row, Bangladesh’s top-order failed to deliver before Mahmudullah and Imrul Kayes scored fighting fifties to help their side post 249 for 7 against Afghanistan in the fourth match of the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup.

Afghanistan did not take long to show that Mashrafe Mortaza’s decision to bat first was wrong. Under-pressure opening duo of Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Liton Das made an unimpressive start. The duo could not get runs at will early on before Aftab Alam broke the stand. The Bangladesh openers could add only 16 runs in 29 balls when Alam dismissed Shanto for 6.

3 deliveries and 2 runs later, Mujeeb Ur Rahman sent back Mohammad Mithun to put Afghanistan well on top. Das and Mushfiqur Rahim stopped the early rot. However, one wicket and two run-outs in quick succession once again derailed Bangladesh’ innings.  Rashid Khan ended the dangerous-looking stand by dismissing Das for 41. Rahim (33) and Shakib Al Hasan (0) were then run-out as Bangladesh found themselves 5 down for 87.

But just when it looked the Tigers would be all out for a subpar total again, Imrul Kayes and Mahmudullah joined hands to bail their team out of trouble. The runs were not coming at a good rate for the batsmen but they did not lose patience. And as a result, both went on to compile fine fifties to help their side put up a respectable total.

The two added 128 runs to help Bangladesh cross the 200-run mark and post a respectable total.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the innings:

For the first time ever: #INDvPAK is less interesting than #AFGvBAN . Rise of cricket in Afghanistan has been nothing less than a fairy tale.

More power to the war torn nation! #AsiaCup2018

— Sachin Shukla (@sachinamity) September 23, 2018

#AFG Sent Half Of The Tigers ?
Back To The Dressing Room !

Team #IND Tumhara Khoon Kab Kholega ???#INDvPAK #AFGvBAN

— Dr Khushboo ?? (@khushbookadri) September 23, 2018

When Imran Khan talked about small men occupying big offices, he meant Pakistan playing a big tournament like Asia Cup with good teams like India, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. #IndvPak

— Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) September 23, 2018

What a fight back from @BCBtigers and what a wonderful partnership between @Mahmudullah30 and #Imrulkayes #AsiaCup18 #BANvAFG

— Shehab Rahman (@shehabrahman96) September 23, 2018

Bangladesh doing well vs Afghanistan. PAK vs BAN could be a shootout for the final

— Ahson (@Ahson8) September 23, 2018

The Bangladesh v Afghanistan looks way more interesting. Bangladesh already two down.

— BuffetKhor (@BuffetKh0r) September 23, 2018

Bangladesh and Afghanistan have replaced SriLanka and Pakistan as the cricketing forces of Subcontinent along with India#SLvAFG

— Ijas Ah'md (@Ijas_7) September 17, 2018

https://twitter.com/Brashnaa/status/1043870904424583169

https://twitter.com/CricAussieFan/status/1043839099977621504

Mahmudullah has played-and-missed at 11% of his balls faced in this Asia Cup; only two top six batsmen have have missed with a higher proportion of their shots, Babar Hayat and Ehsan Khan of Honkg Kong. #AsiaCup #AFGvBAN

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) September 23, 2018

20th ODI half century for Mahmudullah.

What a time to get it. #AFGvBAN #AsiaCup2018 #AsiaCup

— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) September 23, 2018