Asia Cup 2018, Bangladesh vs Afghanistan: 4 reasons why Bangladesh lost

The sixth match of Asia Cup 2018 was an encounter between Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Asghar Afghan won the toss and elected to bat first.

Afghans got off to an awful start. However, the half-centuries by Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rashid Khan brought the team back to the game. Also, a 95-run partnership between Gulbadin Naib and Rashid Khan powered Afghanistan to a score of 255 of their allotted overs. Shakib picked up four vital wickets of Mohammad Shahzad, Asghar Afghan, Samiullah Shenwari and Mohammad Nabi.

Bangladesh had a poor start in the match. Mujeeb, Naib and Rashid were the key performers with the ball as they picked up two wickets each. As a result, Bangladesh were bowled out for 119 of 42.1 overs.

Here's a look at the four reasons why Bangladesh lost.

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#1 Complete batting performance by Afghanistan

Mohammad Shahzad scored 37 off 47 balls, and Shakib dismissed him. Shahidi has scored a 92-ball 58, which was a slow but a sensible knock. The 51-run partnership between Shahzad and Shahidi brought the team back to the game.

Rashid Khan came to bat when the score was 160 for 7 when 9.1 overs were left and had scored a cameo of 57 off 32 balls. Also, a 95-run partnership between Gulbadin Naib and Rashid Khan shifted the circumstance of the match and propelled the team to a total of 255 for 7 of their allotted overs.

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#2 All round performance from Rashid and Gulbadin

Rashid had a great birthday as he scored a half-century and picked up the crucial wickets of hard-hitting Mahmudullah and Shakib. He won the Player of the Match award for his all-round performance.

Gulbadin Naib scored 38-ball 42 and was successful in dismissing Mominul Haque and game-changer Mohammad Mithun.

#3 Great bowling performance from Afghanistan

Afghanistan were able to dismiss the opposition to a total of 119 in 42.1 overs.

Rashid Khan had an economy of 1.44 in his bowling spell of 5-1-11-1. He dismissed the hard-hitters Shakib and Mahmudullah. Part-timer Rahmat Shah has picked up the wicket of Mehidy. Gulbadin dismissed Mominul and Mithun. Mujeeb was able to get rid of Nazmul and Rubel. Alam dismissed the opener Liton. Nabi was successful in picking the wicket of the skipper Mortaza.

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#4 Astonishing collapse of Bangladesh's batting

The openers didn't have a great day with the bat. Liton and Nazmul were dismissed for 6 and 7 respectively.

The middle order failed to meet the expectations of the team. Shakib scored 32, but he was unable to convert it to a fifty. Mominul, Mithun, Mahmudullah and Mehidy struggled with the bat. The skipper was out for an 11-ball duck. Mosaddek was the last man standing he failed to impress with the bat.