Bangladesh v Afghanistan 2nd ODI - 5 Talking Points

An upset? No, we no longer term it that. Afghanistan beating any top cricketing nation at this point in international cricket isn’t an upset but the fruit of their sustained, focused and tidy efforts. The men from the Asian nation have honed their skills to an all new level in the last couple of years. Asghar Stanikzai’s men are not just around as an associate team but know exactly how to crack open the weaknesses of the opponents who sometimes tend to drop their guard a shade since playing against the Afghans.

They were agonizingly close to a victory in the 1^st ODI but couldn’t get over the line. The second match had its crunch moments as well but they managed to stay calm, the nerves were there but were held together. Having bowled really well to restrict Bangladesh to a manageable 208 skipper Stanikzai and Mohammad Nabi had a superb partnership in the middle order to anchor the chase and in the end, Najibullah Zadran along with Mirwais Ashraf who gave the finishing touches to the chase as they sailed over with 2 balls and as many wickets in hand.

1. Mosaddek Hossain impresses on debut:

Debutant Mosaddek Hossain was the one who held things together and helped Bangladesh take the team total past the 200-run mark. He stayed calm for most part of his knock. Waited for the loose deliveries and when they came pounced upon to get the best off it. He also played the lap-scoop off Naveen-ul-Haq and also showed he can hit the pull shot with the maximum he hit on a Dawlat Zadran delivery. Hossain stayed unbeaten till the end of the inning and scored 44 runs from as many balls having put away four 4s and a couple of sixes.

2. Rashid Khan’s triple success:

Young Rashid Khan was brought into the attack at an important point in the game, despite two early blows two mainstays of Bangladesh batting Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim were at the crease and the Afghan skipper brought in his leggie to try and create some more pressure. He bowled the silent overs but didn’t find early success. It was in his 7th over that he got the first wicket, that of Sabbir with a googly. He made it double soon after claiming Taijul Islam who was stuck in front, Rashid had another wicket in the same over as he once again had the batsman plumb in front, Taskin Ahmed couldn’t read the flipper and was on his way back. His figures of 10-2-35-3 were definitely worth a mention.

3. Asghar Stanikzai plays the captain’s knock:

It is seldom that Afghanistan skipper Asghar Stanikzai hasn’t answered the team’s call. He stood up for them tonight as well when the going was getting tougher. The visitors had lost three wickets for 59 runs and that’s when the captain walked out to change the course of the game. Stanikzai was in no hurry whatsoever and had a stable partner in the experienced Mohammad Nabi at the other end. The duo constructed an important partnership worth 107 runs for the 5th wicket. It saw Afghanistan through the crucial middle overs of the game and ensured they weren’t inflicted with any further damage and at the same time kept the chase in check. He was eventually dismissed for 57 but had ensured the team was well on course for yet another fabulous victory.

4. Mohammad Nabi’s all-round show:

Mohammad Nabi has been a true all-rounder for Afghanistan over the years. The former skipper has made it a habit to contribute in both the facets of the game. He first scalped two big fishes in the form of Shakib Al Hasan and Bangladeshi skipper Mashrafe Mortaza and bowled a super miserly spell of 10-3-16-2. But the team needed him to get the runs with the bat as well and Nabi was on his guard. He was instrumental in the partnership with Stanikzai and was rather unlucky to be dismissed for 49. But he deserves a lot of credit for Afghanistan’s emphatic win.

5. Afghanistan’s fighting spirit:

They are no longer pushovers. They deserve their own space in international cricket and are toiling hard to make the world take notice. Afghanistan fell just 7 runs short of what could have been a magnificent victory in the 1st ODI at Mirpur and they made amends in the following game. The target wasn’t as big this time, but these medium-scale totals are the tricky ones.

Afghanistan also lost early wickets and the time the middle order needed for the corrective actions cost them on the run rate front. But more importantly, they never lost sight of the target. It was always going to be difficult since Bangladesh had their best bowlers for the last steam at the death and with tailenders nothing is easy. They held on to it this time and Ashraf and Zadran took the team home just in time.

The significance of this victory can be understood by the fact that Pakistan, India and South Africa in the recent past had failed to beat Bangladesh at home. They were emerging as a force in familiar conditions but this determined Afghan unit has shown when efforts meet grit nothing is too tough to overcome.