Afghanistan knock Bangladesh out, set up tri-series final with Zimbabwe

Bangladesh crashed out of the one-day international tri-series after a seven-wicket defeat by Afghanistan, whose comfortable win secured a place in Friday’s final against Zimbabwe, The Express Tribune reported.

Needing to win by more than 40 runs to go through on net run-rate, Bangladesh chose to bat at Sharjah Cricket Stadium but were bowled out for 160 in 41.2 overs. Afghanistan reached 161 for three in 35.3 overs, with 87 balls to spare.

Scorecard summary

Team	Score	Key performers
Bangladesh	160 all out (41.2 overs)	Parvez Hossain Emon 70, Saif Hassan 41; Rashid Khan 4-31
Afghanistan	161-3 (35.3 overs)	Rahmat Shah 67*, Hashmatullah Shahidi 36*, Ibrahim Zadran 34; Taskin Ahmed 2-36

Bangladesh collapse early

Fast bowler Yamin Ahmadzai struck twice in the second over. Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim fell for one and Soumya Sarkar for a duck off consecutive deliveries, both to loose shots.

Azmatullah Omarzai then removed Najmul Hossain Shanto for 15 and captain Towhid Hridoy for a duck within three balls, leaving Bangladesh 28 for four in the seventh over.

Parvez Hossain Emon, recalled after Liton Das was injured, rebuilt with Saif Hassan. The pair added 93 for the fifth wicket before Saif fell for 41 trying to attack Mohammad Nabi. Emon reached his second half-century in only his fourth ODI and went on to a career-best 70, with five fours and two sixes, in his first one-day international in more than a year.

Rashid finishes it

Leg-spinner Rashid Khan then triggered another collapse. Bangladesh lost their last five wickets for 39 runs, and Rashid finished with four for 31.

Bangladesh still had a slim mathematical chance if they could bowl Afghanistan out for under 119. Taskin Ahmed raised hopes with a sharp inswinger to remove Rahmanullah Gurbaz for six, then dismissed Sediqullah Atal for four, leaving Afghanistan 39 for two in the seventh over.

But Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam could not contain the chase, and debutant mystery spinner Aliss Al Islam went wicketless, conceding 47 runs in 8.3 overs.

Captain’s innings

Rahmat Shah steadied the reply with a 56-run stand with Ibrahim Zadran, who made 34, then added an unbeaten 66 with Hashmatullah Shahidi, who finished on 36. Rahmat’s unbeaten 67 took Afghanistan home with ease.

Taskin Ahmed finished with two for 36 and Mustafizur Rahman one for 32, but neither could stop the Afghan batters from cruising home.

How the group stage finished

Match	Result
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe	Afghanistan won by 158 runs
Zimbabwe v Bangladesh	Zimbabwe won by 99 runs
Afghanistan v Bangladesh	Afghanistan won by seven wickets

Afghanistan and Zimbabwe both beat Bangladesh to reach the final, while Bangladesh head home without a single win in the series.

Final on Friday

Afghanistan go into the final having thrashed Zimbabwe by 158 runs in the group stage. Bangladesh’s campaign ended with two defeats, after they also lost to Zimbabwe by 99 runs.

Elsewhere in ODI cricket, Pakistan have climbed to fourth in the ICC ODI rankings.