Sports Reporter : Defending runners-up Bangladesh tasted a shameful 32-run defeat to Afghanistan in their ODI match of the Asia Cup Cricket at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium on Saturday. Sent into bat first, Afghanistan made a challenging total of 254 for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 50 overs and then they dismissed Bangladesh for 222 off 47.5 overs. Mominul Haque of Bangladesh hit an exact 50. His 72-ball innings was ornamented with six boundaries. Ziaur Rahman, Nasir Hossain and Naeem Islam added 41, 41 and 35 runs respectively to the Bangladesh total. Mohammad Nabi grabbed three wickets at the cost of 44 runs while Hamid Hassan and Shapoor Zadran took two wickets each for 26 and 39 runs respectively. Earlier, newcomers Afghanistan faced disaster losing their first five wickets for 90 runs. Later, Asghar Stanikzai and Samiullah Shenwari played the key role to key make a respectable score. Stanikzai and Shenwari put up together 164 in the sixth wicket stand before Shenwari was unfortunately run out by Anamul Haque when Afghanistan’s score was 254 for the loss of six wickets. Asghar Stanikzai remained unbeaten with 90. His worthy 103-ball innings was decorated with three over boundaries and six boundaries. Samiullah Shenwari hit a marvelous 81 from 69 balls with 10 fours and a sixer. Arafat Sunny bagged a pair of wickets at the cost of 44 runs while Mominul Haque and Rubel Hossain took one wicket each for 38 and 61 runs respectively.
