If Bangladesh’s batsmen failed to learn anything from Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara because they put his ability to repeatedly produce heroic performances down to his international experience, they should have paid close attention to the Afghans on Saturday. While Bangladeshi batsmen have failed to capitalise on comfortable platforms on several occasions, their newest rivals Afghanistan came from behind to recover from 5-90, posting 254-6 in the first innings of their Asia Cup one-day international against Bangladesh in Fatullah.
Asghar Stanikzai and Samiullah Shenwari helped Afghanistan put up a decent total with contrasting innings, giving them the belief that they are not just mere participants in this tournament.
Stanikzai scored an unbeaten 90 off 103 balls, while Shenwari made 81 off 69 balls before he was run out off the penultimate delivery of the innings, ending a 164-run sixth-wicket stand that showcased their batting talent and temperament.
Bangladesh were in a comfort zone before the duo came together and put on the highest sixth-wicket stand against the Tigers in ODIs, bettering the 114 scored by Zimbabweans Elton Chigumbura and Stuart Matsikenyeri in 2006.
The Bangladesh bowling attack, which was already weakened by the absence of the injured Mashrafee bin Murtaza and the suspended Sakib al Hasan, received a further blow when off-spinner Sohag Gazi left the field after bowling just three deliveries.
However, that should take anything away from the Afghan pair, who produced their country’s highest ODI partnership against a Test playing country and their third-highest overall.
The approach of the middle-order showed that the newest participants in the Asia Cup came to the Bangladesh with a purpose.
‘It is the historical win for Afghanistan,’ said Stanikzai.
‘We are here to prove our existence and show that we belong on the big stage.’
Afghanistan were struggling at 90-5 before Stanikzai and Shenwari steadied the innings.
Bangladesh fielders continued to drop catches – a recurring feature of their play as of late – and Nasir Hossain failed to grasp a chance offered by Stanikzai when he was on 35.
Stanikzai looked to be in sublime touch, completing his fifty off 81 balls with a six over long on off Rubel Hossain.
He made his last 40 runs off the next 22 balls he faced.
‘My job was to stay till the end. I knew about my ability. If I could score 30 runs from 70 balls, I knew I could score 70 runs from 30 balls,’ he said.
Substitute fielder Imrul Kayes missed two more chances when Stanikzai was on 72 and 77 runs.
While Stanikzai was firing, someone needed to hold the innings together, and Shenwari remained cool and solid at the other end.
He rotated the strike at will and punished the bad balls to make 81 runs, including 10 fours and a six.
-With New Age input
