An unbeaten 79-run partnership between Parvez Hossain Emon and Saif Hassan led a determined middle-order recovery, lifting Bangladesh to 107 for four after 27 overs following a disastrous top-order collapse in their must-win tri-series encounter against Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Reeling at 28 for four inside the seventh over, Bangladesh found themselves in deep trouble after electing to bat first. Left-handed opener Parvez Hossain Emon anchored the innings with a composed 41 off 59 balls, while Saif Hassan provided solid support at the other end with a steady 37 off 71 deliveries to stabilize the innings.
The early stage of the match belonged entirely to Afghanistan’s pace attack, who exploited the new ball to leave the Bangladesh top order in tatters. Opening batter Tanzid Hasan Tamim managed just one before departing, while veteran Soumya Sarkar fell for a golden duck. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto picked up three boundaries in his 15 off 23 balls before giving his wicket away, and stand-in skipper Towhid Hridoy lasted just two deliveries, departing without scoring.
To book a place in Friday’s final alongside leaders Afghanistan, Bangladesh must defeat their opponents by at least 41 runs to overtake Zimbabwe on net run rate.
Earlier in the afternoon, stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy won the toss and chose to bat, handing off-spinner Aliss Al Islam his One Day International debut. Bangladesh made three changes to the side that suffered a 99-run defeat against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi, bringing in Emon, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Aliss in place of Rishad Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat.
