BAN VS AFG MATCH 3

That's it then from this game and Afghanistan have qualified for the Super 4 phase, leaving one more space in Group B. The action in the Asia Cup 2022 continues on Wednesday, 31st August as India take on Hong Kong in Dubai in a Group A clash. India can join Afghanistan in the next phase of the competition with a win in that game. That game will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) but our build-up, as usual, will begin a lot earlier. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Mujeeb Ur Rahman (4-0-16-3) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant spell. Mujeeb starts by congratulating his entire nation and teammates. He says that he did not get the chance to bowl at the start in the previous game, but he likes to bowl in the Powerplay. Adds that he played in Sharjah before and knows the pitch well. Mentions that his whole plan was to bowl wicket to wicket and that helped him to get the wickets.

Mohammad Nabi, the captain of Afghanistan starts by thanking the almighty. He says that everyone knows how incredible the two spinners are. Also says that Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan are world-class bowlers. Adds that they were ahead in the game by taking early wickets and that was their plan. Mentions that they do have some power-hitters in the ranks. Praises Najibullah Zadran's effort for the way he ended the game.

Shakib Al Hasan, the captain of Bangladesh says that it is tough when you lose four wickets in the first 7-8 overs. Adds that they were 10-15 runs short. He praises his bowlers for this performance and says that they were in the game for 15 overs but credits the Afghani batters for their performance. Ends by saying that they will need to improve their batting and comeback harder in the next match.

The Presentation ceremony...

The man of the moment, Najibullah Zadran is down for a quick chat. He starts by thanking the almighty and by congratulating the whole nation on this victory. Adds that he looked for the straight hits and took his time to settle in. Says that he aimed to play his natural game and kept it simple. Stay tuned for the presentation ceremony.

Earlier in the game, Shakib Al Hasan opted to bat first and almost instantly, the decision backfired. Bangladesh lost early wickets in the Powerplay as Mujeeb Ur Rahman ran right through their top order and they were pushed onto the back foot. Mosaddek Hossain and Mahmudullah did manage to build up a stand and Mosaddek played a gem of a knock to take his side to a total that was a bit better than a run-a-ball. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan both picked up three wickets each and were simply sensational. With a low target to chase down, all Afghanistan needed was one big stand and that came for the fourth wicket between Ibrahim Zadran and Najibullah Zadran, with the latter taking the game completely away from the opposition and Afghanistan became the first team to qualify for the Super 4 phase.

Bangladesh will be disappointed in the end as their batters just didn't put up enough runs on the board. Their spinners, however, were almost as good as their counterparts but just couldn't pick up enough wickets. Their pacers were bang average and one would have expected much better from the likes of Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed. Bangladesh will now have to battle it out against Sri Lanka in their next game and whoever wins that one will make it to the Super 4.

Afghanistan have come into this tournament high on confidence and they are playing to the best of their abilities. They needed just 128 runs to win but given the nature of the wicket, it wasn't going to be easy. Both openers got starts and then got out and the skipper too couldn't put up a fight. It was Ibrahim Zadran who held up one end beautifully and when it mattered most, Najibullah Zadran targeted the Bangladeshi pacers and hit them to all corners and even finished proceedings with a biggie. He remained unbeaten on 43 off just 17 balls and that 69-run stand between the two Zadrans was enough for Afghanistan to win the game.

We have witnessed yet another thriller of a game in the Asia Cup. Well, we were on the verge of one but Najibullah Zadran has just powered Afghanistan into the Super 4 by flexing his muscles. The game was hanging on a knife's edge but it is Afghanistan who have made it back-to-back wins in the competition and they have done so very convincingly.

SIX! Najibullah Zadran finishes things off in style! This is tossed up, full and on off, Najibullah Zadran smokes it over the long off fence for a biggie. Afghanistan WIN BY 7 WICKETS. Also, they have made it to the Super Four.

Short and on middle, Ibrahim Zadran mistimes his pull towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

Tossed up, full and on leg, Ibrahim Zadran tucks it to mid-wicket.

SIX! TWO IN A ROW! It is full, outside off. Zadran clears his front leg and smokes it over the long off fence for another maximum. The Bangladesh fans are silent now.

SIX! This is huge! Back of a length, on off. Najibullah Zadran stays back and throws his blade at it. The ball flies over the fine leg fence.

WIDE! It is full, wide of off, outside the tramline. Wided.

Full length, on off. Zadran gets an inside edge on his pads.