Bangladesh 'A' Team Faces Defeat Against Afghanistan in Emerging Asia Cup

Bangladesh 'A' team suffered a disappointing defeat against Afghanistan in their second match of the Emerging Asia Cup, despite a promising start in the tournament with a victory over Hong Kong-China. Batting first, Bangladesh set a target of 165 runs, but Afghanistan chased it down with five balls to spare, led by an outstanding 95-run innings from opener Sediqullah Atal.

Afghanistan, having won their first match against Sri Lanka, continued their momentum, securing a thrilling 4-wicket victory over Bangladesh. With two consecutive wins, Darwish Rasooli's side is now at the top of the tournament table.

At the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman, Bangladesh 'A' lost the toss and batted first. Although Parvez Hossain Emon started aggressively, fellow opener Jishan Alam struggled, managing only 4 runs off 7 balls. However, Bangladesh ended the powerplay without losing another wicket, scoring a total of 45 runs.

Emon showcased his batting skills, reaching his fifty off just 26 balls, hitting four fours and four sixes. Unfortunately, he couldn't extend his innings much further, falling to Kais Ahmad's spin for a personal score of 54. Saif Hasan, coming in at number three, was dismissed LBW for 16 runs after a brief stay at the crease.

Captain Akbar Ali, who had performed well in the previous match, was dismissed early for just 4 runs. However, a responsible partnership between Towhid Hridoy and Shamim Hossain Patowary steadied the innings, contributing significantly to the team's total. The duo added 70 runs in the last 45 balls, with Hridoy finishing unbeaten on 42 runs and Shamim scoring a quick 38 off 24 balls.

Chasing a target of 165, Afghanistan lost two early wickets but managed to score 52 runs in the powerplay. Captain Darwish Rasooli was out for 4 runs, while Karim Janat fell to Alis Al Islam for 9 runs, leaving Afghanistan at 52 for 3.

Abu Haider Rony provided a crucial breakthrough for Bangladesh by dismissing Shahidullah Kamal for 19 runs with a slower delivery. Despite losing wickets, Sediqullah Atal remained resolute, reaching his fifty off 36 balls and keeping Afghanistan's hopes alive. Shamim Hossain provided another breakthrough, dismissing Ishaq Shirzad for 10 runs, but Atal's innings continued to dominate.

In a standout performance, Atal's unbeaten 95 runs off 55 balls sealed the victory for Afghanistan, ensuring they secured the win and maintained their position at the top of the table in the Emerging Asia Cup.