Rashid Khan’s whirlwind half-century coupled by a patient 58 by Hazmatullah Shahidi enabled Afghanistan to put on 255 for 7 against Bangladesh in the final group match of the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi.
On his 20th birthday, Rashid Khan took Bangladesh by surprise by slamming his third ODI half-century and that too off only 31 balls. The star Afghan put on 95 runs in the last overs along with Gulbadin Naib to lift the Afghanistan innings from 160 for 7 to 255 for 7 after opting to bat first.
For the better part of the innings Bangladesh were in control but the record eighth-wicket partnership between Rashid and Naib turned the match on its head. Rashid, one of the premier leg-spinners in the world, played the role of the batting anchor for his side Thursday as he hit eight fours and one six in his 32-ball unbeaten innings. Gulbadin faced 38 balls and hit five fours.
Rashid hit four boundaries in the final over bowled by Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza to end the innings in style with a four. He remained unbeaten on 57 off 32 balls while his partner Naib scored 42 off 38 balls.
Earlier in the innings, Hashmatullah Shahidi kept the Afghans in the hunt with a fighting 92-ball 58 after his side were reduced to 28 for 2 in the sixth over itself.
Wickets fell around Shahidi with only opener Mohammad Shahzad (37), with whom he stitched 51 runs for the third wicket, making some contribution.
Debutant pacer Abu Hider (2/50) opened the bowling for Bangladesh and he got his first ODI wicket in his fourth delivery. Afghanistan opener Ihsanullah (8) hit two consecutive fours before a big one from him landed into the hands of Mohammad Mithun at cover region.
Abu Hider had his second wicket in the sixth over as Rahmat Shah (10) was completely beaten by a beautiful delivery which knocked off the stumps.
Shahidi came out at this juncture when Afghanistan were two down for 28 and he and with Shahzad steadied the innings before Shakib broke the stand which was threatening to settle down for a big partnership.
Shahzad was holed out at long on with Abu Hider taking a spectacular catch to give his senior team-mate the first wicket of the match and the much-needed breakthrough.
Afghanistan crossed the 100-run mark exactly at the halfway stage but Shakib was only getting better as he bowled out Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan (8) who was beaten by the flight of the delivery and drove the wrong line to see his stumps uprooted.
Shakib then added another wicket to his kitty in the 34th over by having Samiullah Shenwari (18) to reduce Afghanistan to 239 for 5.
Shahidi was holding one end together all these while but he was also out in the 38th over as he edged a Rubel Hossain delivery to the wicketkeeper for a soft dismissal.
At 160 for 7 in the 41st over, it seemed that Afghanistan would struggle to even reach 200 but Rashid and Gulbadin had other ideas.