Afghanistan secure thrilling ODI win over Bangladesh

Afghanistan completed a nail-biting, historic two-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the second one-day international in Dhaka yesterday to level the series.Asghar Stanikzai (57) and Mohamed Nabi (49) stabilised the innings with a 107-runs stand for the fifth wicket, before Bangladesh fought back with three wickets in 19 runs to put the visitors on the back foot. However, with three balls remaining in the match, Dawlat Zadran’s outside edge flew over backward point to secure their second victory over Bangladesh, having first beaten the hosts in the 2014 Asia Cup.Earlier, leg spinner Rashid Khan took 3-35 as Afghanistan dismissed Bangladesh for a modest 208 runs. Needing a win to bounce back in the three-match series, Afghanistan’s slow bowlers bowled brilliantly to restrict Bangladesh as off-spinner Mohamed Nabi claimed 2-16 in his 10 overs.Medium pacer Mirwais Ashraf took 2-23 to complement the spin duo while leg-spinner Rahmat Shah and pacer Naveen-ul-Haq chipped in with vital wickets. Debutant middle-order batsman Mosaddek remained unbeaten on 45 to help Bangladesh pass the 200-run mark.Put into bat first, Bangladesh, who were looking for their 100th ODI win to wrap-up the series after winning Sunday’s first match by a narrow seven runs, made a cautious start with opening pair fetching 45 runs.Ashraf removed both the openers Tamim Iqbal (20) and Soumya Sarkar (20) before Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah revived the innings adding 61 runs for the third wicket. Afghan spinners took the control of the proceedings once Naveen-ul-Haq bowled Mahmudullah for 25.Rahim, who scored 38, soon followed Mahmudullah attempting his favourite slow-sweep as Naveen-ul Haq took the catch at deep square leg off leg-spinner Shah. Nabi trapped Shakib Al Hasan leg-before for 17 before Rashid worked out the lower order.Just when it looked as though Bangladesh were about to be dismissed well below 200 runs, Mosaddek, who replaced Imrul Kayes in the starting line-up, staged a fightback with last man Rubel Hossain. The duo put 43 runs in the last wicket pair before Rubel was out in second ball of the innings’ final over.The third and final match of the series will be held on Saturday.Scoreboard Bangladesh inningsTamim Iqbal c Dawlat b Ashraf  20Soumya Sarkar c Hashmatullah c Ashraf  20Mahmudullah Riyad b Naveen-ul-Haq  25Mushfiqur Rahim c Naveen-ul-Haq b Shah  38Shakib Al Hasan lbw Nabi  17Sabbir Rahman lbw Rashid  4Mosaddek Hossain not out  45Mashrafe Mortaza c Dawlat b Nabi  2Taijul Islam lbw Rashid Khan  10Taskin Ahmed lbw Rashid Khan  0Rubel Hossain run out  10Extras (b1, lb7, w8, nb1)  17Total (all out 49.2 overs)  208Fall of wickets: 1-45(Tamim), 2-50 (Soumya), 3-111 (Mahmudullah), 4-122 (Rahim), 5-138 (Shakib), 6-138 (Sabbir), 7-141 (Mortaza), 8-165 (Taijul), 9-165 (Taskin), 10-208 (Rubel)Bowling: Nabi 10-3-16-2, Dawlat 8-1-47-0(w4), Ashraf 5-0-23-2 Naveen-ul-Haq 8.2-0-49-1(w1), Rashid 10-2-35-3 (w1), Shah 8-0-30-1(nb1, w2)Afghanistan inningsMohamed Shahzad c Taskin b Shakib  35Nawroz Mangal c Taijul b Shakib  10Rahmat Shah lbw Shakib  0Hashmatullah Shahidi lbw b Mosaddek  14Asghar Stanikzai c Sabbir b Mosaddek  57Mohamed Nabi lbw Mortaza  49Najibullah Zadran c Mosaddek b Taskin  22Rashid Khan lbw Shakib  5Mirwais Ashraf not out  9Dawlat Zadran not out  4Extras (lb2, w5)  7Total (eight wickets; 49.4 overs)  212Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Mangal), 2-14 (Shah), 3-59 (Hashmatullah), 4-63 (Shahzad), 5-170 (Nabi), 6-174 ( tanikzai), 7-189 ( Rashid), 8-208 (Najibullah)Did not bat: Naveen-ul-HaqBowling: Mortaza 10-0-31-1 (w2), Shakib 10-0-47-4, Taskin 4.4-0-32-1(w2), Taijul 10-0-38-0, Mosaddek 10-1-30-2 (w1), Sabbir 2-0-8-0, Rubel 3-0-24-0Result: Afghanistan won by two wicketsSeries Result: Three-match series tied 1-1