Afghanistan rode on Asghar Stanikzai and Samiullah Shinwari’s partnership, put up a challenging total of 254 losing six wickets in their Asia Cup match against Bangladesh at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah on Saturday. A 164-run sixth wicket partnership between the two dragged the newcomers from a despondent 90-5 to the modest total. Stanikzai was unbeaten on 90 while Shinwari added 81 before he was run out off the second last delivery of their innings. The visitors, sent in to bat first, got off to a slow start as they lost five wickets to reach 90 after 27 overs.Bangladesh got their injury list even more expanded in the 11th over of the innings when Sohag Gazi left the field injuring his finger. However, success came for the hosts in the next over when Mohammad Shahzad (2) had to go, trapped lbw to a slower one from Rubel Hossain which came back sharply from outside the off stump. Karim Sadiq (12) fell next, as he got a leading edge off Arafat Sunny’s last delivery of the 12th over which looped straight back to the bowler. Sunny struck again in his next over, knocking Najibullah Zadran’s stumps. He was on 21. Nowroz Mangal was run out for 24 in the 23rd over. Naeem Islam fired a quick throw to send back the seemingly settled batsman. Mohammad Nabi (7) top edged a Mominul Haque delivery to Nasir Hossain at first slip. Then came Shinwari who stayed 23 overs with Stanikzai out in the middle. The Afghan duo added 107 runs in their last ten overs. Stanikzai smashed three sixes and six fours on the way to his career best innings while Shinwari hit a six and ten fours.
