Afghanistan became the first team of the Asia Cup 2022 to enter the Super 4 following the thrashing they served to Bangladesh on Tuesday in Sharjah. They keep a perfect record in Group B having already defeat Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in the tournament opener in Dubai.
Afghanistan were set a target of 128 on a Sharjah surface that was slow, low, gripping and very much spinning. After 13 overs, they were 62/3 and the game hung in balance with the Bangladeshi spinners making their statement after the Afghani spinners had dominated the first innings.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman hurts Bangladesh with his three-for in the powerplay
However, after that, Najibullah Zadran and Ibrahim Zadran swung the game in a stunning fashion with their partnership of 69* runs off only 33 balls. Najibullah, in particular, batted as if he was batting on a totally different surface – while others struggled to keep going at run-a-ball, Najibullah cracked 43* runs in only 17 balls to take his side home.
Batting at number 3, Ibrahim Zadran played the anchor role, remaining unbeaten on 42 off 41 balls. At one stage it looked that Bangladeshi bowlers will stretch the game till the last over as the pitch was assisting them, but in a flurry of big hits – Najibullah smoked 6 sixes and 1 four – the game was done and dusted, Afghanistan winning it by 7 wickets and 9 balls to spare.
Earlier, it was the spin-twin show – Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan, both the spinners took three wickets each. Mujeeb was given the Player of the Match award for his devastating effect with the ball in the powerplay – he dismissed the top three of Bangladesh including their skipper Shakib Al Hasan.
Fans on Twitter congratulated Afghanistan on their victory, and Super 4 qualification, while also lamented the dismal batting show by the Bangladeshi batters.
Here are some of the best tweets on the Afghanistan-Bangladesh game of Asia Cup 2022:
What a match. Congratulations
This is the second consecutive win for Afghanistan in the Asia Cup. This time, beating Bangladesh.
— Habib Khan (@HabibKhanT) August 30, 2022
This is the second consecutive win for Afghanistan in the Asia Cup. This time, beating Bangladesh. 
– If Farooqi doesn’t get you, #Mujeeb will.
– If Mujeeb doesn’t get you,
Nabi will.
– If Nabi doesn’t get you,
Naveen will.
– If all else fails,
RASHID KHAN will definitely get you.Take #Afghanistan lightly at your own peril
— Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog (@cricket_broken) August 30, 2022
“Even Roy Fredricks wouldn’t have hit like that”
Father, the eternal West Indies fan, on Najibullah’s stunning six over fine-leg
— N.Sudarshan (@sudunarayan) August 30, 2022
Afg won against Ban too. Fantastic inning by Najibullah Zadran 43*(17). Afg qualify for the super4
— Chaudhary Ali Hamza (@iamalihamxa) August 30, 2022
What do the Afghan boys have for lunch?
— Kalani Kumarasinghe (@KalaniWrites) August 30, 2022
Full celebration, congratulations afghanistan
— Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) August 30, 2022
Najibullah Zadran is better than Many FRAUDS who are playing in IPL but these owners/statistician never trust him.#AFGvsBAN pic.twitter.com/PSo7DURe7Y
— कट्टर KKR समर्थक
(@KKRWeRule) Bangladesh right now
— Apu Das (@Apudas1999) August 30, 2022
Happiness is this….!!!!! Ha ha ha Bangladesh lost the match…
— Shahbaz (@mohd_shahbazz) August 30, 2022
No one:
Bangladeshi cricket team in every match
— M Hashir (@jarvis546) August 30, 2022
Afghanistan
Love From India— Lalit Bhandari (@lalitbhandarii) August 30, 2022
We love this tiger. #AFGvsBAN pic.twitter.com/AThpS7Bufx
— Sudip Maji (@cool_msudip) August 30, 2022
#AFGvsBAN #AsiaCup2022
Full support to— Deepak Yadav
Scenes right now#AFGvsBAN #BANvAFG#AFGVBAN pic.twitter.com/vpIimYO6CL
— om rajpurohit (@Omrajguruu) August 30, 2022
Afghanistan to Bangladesh:-#AFGvsBAN #AsiaCup2022 #DPWorldAsiaCup2022 pic.twitter.com/kkm6hQyam9
— Nimesh Agarwal (@Vickyyyy19) August 30, 2022
the way Afghanistan is playing, I want #INDvsAFG Final!!
— Prateek Joshi (@prateekkjoshi) August 30, 2022
What a night for Afghanistan! Winning games, winning hearts! What a story @ACBofficials #AFGvsBAN #AsiaCup2022
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) August 30, 2022
Shakib in press conference#AFGvsBAN #AsiaCup #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/sP5VAqbnOF
— Arun (@ArunTuThikHoGya) August 30, 2022
Destroyed#AFGvsBAN#AfghanAtalan pic.twitter.com/MGWGMr4hAf
— SAAD (@Fallen_x_King) August 30, 2022
What a amazing crazzy match
— Vineet_Zon (@Vineet_Zon) August 30, 2022
Would love for Nidahas Trophy drama to be recreated between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on Thursday in Dubai.
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) August 30, 2022
Bangladesh batsmen with their notes on the Afghanistan spinners. pic.twitter.com/CZJc6XHhK8
— CricBlog
(@cric_blog) It has been 22 years since Bangladesh got Test status but till now they have only been consistently good in only one format (ODIs) for a considerable period of time and people expect associate teams(way less funding and games) and newly inducted Test teams to be consistent.
— Akash Kumar Jha (@Akashkumarjha14) August 30, 2022
Lots of things are temporary in this world but Bangladesh’s bottle gene is permanent. Afghanistan looking dangerous this tournament.
— Cover Drive (@CoverDriveCric) August 30, 2022
Baggin the Player of the Match award, Mujee said, “I would congratulate my team and the entire nation. My strength is to bowl with the new ball. I have played before in Sharjah. All my plan was to bowl wicket to wicket and that worked for me.”
This game has now set up for a Bangladesh-Sri Lanka virtual knockout game on Thursday in Dubai with the loser going home and the winner moving forward to Super 4.
