Afghanistan parry late fightback to sting Bangladesh with last-over win

Afghanistan have fended off a late fightback from Bangladesh to seal a tense two-wicket win over their below-par hosts in the second ODI.

The three-match series is now level on 1-1.

Chasing just 209, skipper Asghar Stanikzai (57) and Mohammad Nabi (49) put the tourists on course before the Tigers managed to boil it down to the last over at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Wednesday night.

Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and his men, however, failed to capitalise on some superb bowling from the spinners as Afghanistan rode to a hard-fought victory with two balls to spare.

An atrocious batting display from Bangladesh topped off by some fine bowling from Afghanistan spinners had earlier seen the hosts bundled out for a subpar 208 after being asked to bat first.

A collapse in which Bangladesh lost five wickets for just 29 runs left them reeling at 141-7 but debutant Mosaddek Hossain (45 not out) dug deep to arrest the slide and give the bowlers a total to bowl at.

Displaying superb temperament at the crease, he played himself in and kept the scoreboard ticking with the tailenders.

The 20-year-old shared a 43-run 10th wicket stand with Rubel Hossain (10) to record Bangladesh's highest last wicket partnership at the ground.

Afghanistan had opened their bowling with Mohammad Nabi's offbreak on a slow track, which had more grass on it than the one used in the first match.

Openers Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar began cautiously while some tight bowling from the tourists early on made sure Bangladesh were off to a sedate start.

The openers scored 20 runs each in a 45-run partnership before Mirwais Ashraf took them out in successive overs, leaving Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim with the rebuilding.

The experienced duo seemed to have things under control when they took the team past 100 in the 23rd over but Stanikzai kept rotating his spinners in search of wickets.

Mahmudullah departed scoring 25 and his 61-run stand with Mushfiqur (38) was the highest of the innings.

The collapse ensued when the wicketkeeper-batsman holed out at deep square leg as Shakib Al Hasan (17), Sabbir Rahman (4) and Mashrafe (2) walked back in the space of three runs.

Legspinner Rashid Khan grabbed 3 for 35 while Man-of-the-Match Nabi proved to be a thorn with figures of 2-16 in 10 overs.

Ace allrounder Shakib gave Bangladesh an ideal start when he struck twice in the fourth over to take out Nawroz Mangal (10) and Rahmat Shah (0).

Mosaddek showcased his skills with the ball when he trapped Hashmatullah Shahidi (14) in front with his first delivery and became the first debutant to do so for Bangladesh in an ODI.

Shakib saw the back of the ominous-looking Mohammad Shahzad (35) to peg the Afghans further back on 63-4.

But Stanikzai and Nabi paired in a recovery stand and put their team in front adding 107 runs for the fifth wicket.

Mashrafe seemed to have run out of ideas as the duo eased through the midovers.

Stanikzai clubbed four boundaries and two sixes on his way to 57 while Nabi played a strong supporting act with 49 to take the match away from Bangladesh.

It was Mashrafe who got the break for the home team in the 40th over with the crucial wicket of the Afghan captain before the 20-year-old Mosaddek earned the scalp of Nabi in the next.

The quick wickets revived the Tigers' spirits and with two new batsmen at the crease Mashrafe decided to switch to attack with aggressive field placements.

By then, the Afghans were just 35 runs away from the finish line and it was too late for a fightback. But Mushfiqur squandered a straightforward stumping opportunity and Soumya failed to get under a tough chance which could have changed the result had they been taken.

A glittering debut from Mosaddek (2-30) and some fine bowling from Shakib (4-47) came in a lost cause as Bangladesh remain a win away from their 100th ODI victory.