Rashid, Naib hurt Tigers

Afghan cricketer Rashid Khan (L) celebrates after he dismissed Bangladesh batsman Shakib Al Hasan (R) during the one day international (ODI) Asia Cup cricket match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan at The Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on 20 September, 2018. Photo: AFP
Afghan cricketer Rashid Khan (L) celebrates after he dismissed Bangladesh batsman Shakib Al Hasan (R) during the one day international (ODI) Asia Cup cricket match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan at The Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on 20 September, 2018. Photo: AFP

Rashid Khan and Gulbadin Naib first hit 95 runs in the eight-wicket partnership and then grabbed two wickets each to torment the Bangladesh batsmen as Afghanistan sealed a 137-run win in their Asia Cup match in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

The win means Afghanistan finished Group B as champions with two wins from as many games while Bangladesh finish second over Sri Lanka, who lost both their games in the three-strong group.

The heroics of Rashid and Naib overshadowed the four-wicket haul of Shakib Al Hasan and an encouraging debut for pacer Abu Hider.

Winning the toss, the Afghans opted to bat first, but Abu Hider tormented their top order. The pacer became one of the rare players to claim a wicket in his debut over when he had Ihsanullah give a catch to Mohammad Mithun in the day's 10th ball.

Four overs later, he bowled Rahmat Shah to claim his second of the day, with the score on 28.

Mohammad Shahzad looked dangerous as the opener and Hashmatullah Shahidi made 51 in the third wicket, but Abu Hider took a wonderful catch near the boundary to put an end to the former's innings. It was Shakib's first wicket of the day.

Shahzad hit 37 off 47 balls while Shahidi topscored 58 off 92 balls.

Afghan cricketer Gulbadin Naib (L) celebrates after he dismissed Bangladesh batsman Mohammad Mithun (C) during the one day international (ODI) Asia Cup cricket match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan at The Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on 20 September, 2018. Photo: AFP
Afghan cricketer Gulbadin Naib (L) celebrates after he dismissed Bangladesh batsman Mohammad Mithun (C) during the one day international (ODI) Asia Cup cricket match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan at The Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on 20 September, 2018. Photo: AFP

Shakib then wreaked havoc down the Afghan middle order, removing Asghar Afghan, Samiullah Shenwari and Mohammad Nabi while Rubel Hossain claimed the wicket of Shahidi as the batting side looked set for a poor score.

But Gulbadin and Rashid Khan then proved everyone wrong, batting fearlessly after the seventh wicket fell on 160.

Gulbadin was not out on 42, made with five fours in just 38 balls, while Rashid Khan slammed eight fours and a six in his 32-ball 57-run storm.

Rashid hit four fours in the last over bowled by Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, some of his shots looking like hit by a top-order batsman and they ended on 255 for 7.

In their chase, the top-order again failed the Tigers, with four of the first five batsmen failing to reach double digit.

One-down Shakib was the top scorer with 32 while Mahmudullah made 27 and Mosaddek Hossain an unbeaten 26, but that certainly was not enough.

Like Rashid and Naib, Mujeeb Ur Rahman also bagged two wickets while Aftab Alam, Mohammad Nabi and Rahmat Shah grabbed one apiece.

The Tigers were all out for 119, but the fact that they made that run in 42.1 overs says how tight the Afghan bowling was.

Bangladesh play India in less than 24 hours in their first Super Four game while Afghanistan take on Pakistan at the same time.