‘Mustafizur was like a magician’: Mashrafe

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza heaped praise on Mustafizur Rahman after the fast bowler's brilliant final over to defend eight runs against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup 2018.

For the second time in as many games, Afghanistan found themselves on the wrong side of the result despite dragging the match extremely close.

They had lost to Pakistan by three wickets with only three balls to spare in their first Super Four clash, and on Sunday, 23 September, they lost by three runs as Rahman weaved his magic while defending eight in the final over.

Rahman was in discomfort at one point due to cramps, but the 23-year-old pulled through to deliver a fantastic final over. With his full range of variations he befuddled the Afghanistan batsmen.

"At the end of the game, Mustafizur was like a magician," said Mortaza after the match. "It was difficult to defend eight runs, credit goes to Mustafizur.

"Mustafizur was cramping a bit in the middle. We wanted him to bowl 10 overs but he couldn't. It is hot and [it's] a tough job."

Bangladesh also had a middle-order resurgence to thank for their crucial victory. They were reeling at 87/5 at one stage but Mahmudullah (74) and Imrul Kayes (72*), the latter called into the squad only after the loss to India as an injury replacement, put on a 128-run partnership for the sixth wicket to take their side to 249/7.

"It was Mahmudullah and Kayes, playing his first game... they set it up for us with the bat," Mortaza said.

With that victory, Bangladesh are in serious contention to make the final - their match against Pakistan on 26 September will be a virtual semi-final. But for Afghanistan, with back-to-back losses in the Super Fours, qualification for the final has become tricky.

Asghar Afghan, the Afghanistan captain, expressed his disappointment. "We required eight off six and it was not difficult especially when (Gulbadin) Naib, one of the main batsman in the death overs was batting," he said.

"Mustafizur bowled very well, I will give credit to him. He is a good variation bowler, (but) we should have chased this total down.

"It was going according to our plan. In the last overs we had wickets in the hand. Maybe we should have taken singles or doubles in the last over.

"250 wasn't a lot on a wicket like that because it was good for batting. When you play against full-member teams, they don't allow you a lot of mistakes."

Source: International Cricket Council