In the final game of the group stages (Group B) of the ongoing Asia Cup 2018, Afghanistan clinched a thumping victory against Bangladesh at Sheikh Zayed Stadium (Abu Dhabi) on Thursday night with the help of the birthday boy Rashid Khan’s brilliant all-round performances.

Rashid Khan becomes the 20-year-old on the match day where Afghanistan decided to bat first after winning the toss. Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza rested Mushfiqur Rahim and Mustafizur Rahman in this game while Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Abu Hider made their ODI debuts in this encounter.

Apart from the opener Mohammad Shahzad (37) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (58), none of the top and middle-order Afghanistan batsmen reached the 20-run marks as Afghanistan once went down to 160/7 in 40.5 overs.

In the end, the no.8 batsman Gulbadin Naib and the no.9 batsman Rashid Khan provided a crucial unbroken 95-run partnership for the eighth wicket that helped the team to manage a 250+ total as they scored 255/7 at the end of 50 overs. In the end, Naib remained not out on 42 runs while Khan was not out on 57 runs.

Among the Bangladeshi bowlers, Shakib Al Hasan (4/42) bagged four wickets while Abu Hider (2/50) and Rubel Hossain (1/32) got two and one wickets respectively.

In reply, Bangladesh was bundled out for just 119 runs in 42.1 overs. Only Shakib Al Hasan (32), Mahmudullah (27) and Mosaddek Hossain (26*) reached the 20-runs marks while the other batsmen even failed to reach the double-digit scores.

Among the Afghan bowlers, Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2/22), Gulbadin Naib (2/30) and Rashid Khan (2/13) got two wickets each while Aftab Alam (1/11), Mohammad Nabi (1/24) and Rahmat Shah (1/7) picked up one wicket each. Afghanistan won this match by 136 runs.

Rashid Khan won the Player of the Match award while Afghanistan finished as the Group B champions and Bangladesh finished as the Group B runners-up and both qualified for the next round of the tournament – Super Four stage.

Brief Scores: Afghanistan – 255/7 in 50 overs (Hashmatullah Shahidi 58, Rashid Khan 57*; Shakib Al Hasan 4/42)

Bangladesh – 119 in 42.1 overs (Shakib Al Hasan 32, Mahmudullah 27; Rashid Khan 2/13)

Result – Afghanistan won by 136 runs

Important stats highlights of the match:

• Afghanistan no.9 batsman Rashid Khan completed his half-century in just 31 balls. It is the joint second fastest ODI half-century by an Afghanistan batsman (Javed Ahmadi and Karim Sadiq achieved this once each). The record is completing the ODI half-century in 28 balls by Shafiqullah (against Ireland at Greater Noida on March 19, 2017) and Mohammad Nabi (against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo on July 18, 2014) once each.
• Afghanistan batsmen Gulbadin Naib and Rashid Khan provided an important unbroken 95-run partnership for the eighth wicket. It is the record eighth-wicket ODI partnership for Afghanistan. The previous record was 66* between Mirwais Ashraf and Rashid Khan against Ireland at Belfast on July 17, 2016.
• Afghanistan batsmen Gulbadin Naib and Rashid Khan provided an important unbroken 95-run partnership for the eighth wicket. It is the second highest eighth wicket partnership in Asia Cup history. The record is the 100-run partnership between the Pakistan batsmen Fawad Alam and Sohail Tanvir against Hong Kong at Karachi on June 24, 2008.
• Afghanistan scored 255/7 in 50 overs. It was their second highest ODI total against Bangladesh. Their record is 258 (50 overs) at Dhaka on September 25, 2016.
• Afghanistan won this match by 136 runs. It is their fourth largest ODI victory (by runs).