FATULLAH, Bangladesh // Afghanistan put up a brilliant performance to upset hosts Bangladesh by 32 runs for their first the Asia Cup victory yesterday.
Afghanistan rode on a brilliant unbeaten career best 90 by Asghar Stanikzai and a punishing 69-ball 81 by Samiullah Shinwari to post a challenging 254-6 before bowling out their rivals for 222 in 47.5 overs.
Afghanistan’s victory marked their first win over a Test playing country in four one-day matches. They previously lost both their one-day internationals against Pakistan and one against Australia.
Afghanistan are playing the Asia Cup for the first time. It was a great shock for the hosts, who were runners-up in the last Asia Cup in 2012 to Pakistan.
Bangladesh, who lost their opening match to India, never looked settled in their run-chase as they lost their openers by the second over with only a single run on the board.
It was a 68-run stand between Mominul Haque (50) and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (23) that lifted Bangladesh before Afghan captain Mohammad Nabi claimed his counterpart’s wicket. Mominul hit six boundaries in a sedate 72-ball innings but once he was bowled by Shinwari (1-23), all hopes of a home team win evaporated.
Earlier, Afghanistan, put into bat, owed their total to a record sixth wicket stand of 164 runs between Stanikzai and Shinwari who lifted their team from a precarious 90-5.
Stanikzai hit six boundaries and three towering sixes iwhile Shinwari smashed 10 fours and a six as they ran riot in the final 10 overs, adding 107 runs.
Team P W L NR Pts NRR
Sri Lanka 2 2 0 0 8 +0.17
Pakistan 2 1 1 0 5 +0.60
India 2 1 1 0 4 +0.02
Afghanistan 2 1 1 0 4 -0.40
Bangladesh 2 0 2 0 0 -0.38