Tigers defeated Afghanistan by 89 runs to maintain their Asian Cup status.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto scored century as Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan by 89 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, to maintain their hopes of winning the Asia Cup.

According to BSS, the large margin insured that Bangladesh’s net run rate surpassed that of Sri Lanka, giving them a strong chance to advance to the Super 4 regardless of the outcome between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

Miraz, who in as a substitute opener in the “do or die” match for Bangladesh, hit a career-high 112 while Shanto, coming off an 89, hit 104, leading the team to a daunting 334-5, their third-highest total in ODI history.

Bangladesh bowled Afghanistan out for 245 in 44.3 overs thanks to the work of new ball bowlers Tasking Ahmed (4-44) and Shoriful Islam (3-36), who shared seven wickets between them.

Following their five-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in the first game, Miraz and Shanto’s 194-run partnership, the second-highest for Bangladesh in third wicket, was important to the team’s crucial victory.

Only Miraz’s injury forced him to retire after a superb 119 ball innings that had seven fours and three sixes did the pair part ways.

When Bangladesh was reduced to 63-2 in the eleventh over on a placid pitch, they formed the partnership to set the tone.

Naim Sheikh made a respectable start after captain Shakib Al Hasan elected to bat first, but he was dismissed for 28 after failing to read a googly from Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Towhid Hridoy, who had been elevated to No. 3, was out after catching his first career duck, which put the pressure on Miraz and Shanto, both of whom performed excellently.

They found the spark that was lacking in the game against Sri Lanka thanks to their careful and aggressive batting approach.

In another clever move, both Shanto and Miraz initially showed Rashid Khan the respect he deserved.

As Bangladesh neared the 300-run mark, both players emerged from their shells and unleashed some tremendous strokes against Afghan bowlers, notably Rashid Khan.

Bangladesh performed well to deal with the disruption that Miraz’s retirement may have caused. However, the three run out dismissals that began with Shanto’s dismissal, shortly after he reached his second century, damaged Bangladesh the most. His 105 ball-104 score included two sixes and nine fours.

But the Tigers, led by Shanto and Miraz, carried out their strategy so expertly against Mujeeb and Rashid, their longtime foes, that both of them ended up conceding more than six runs per over for the first time ever against hitters from Bangladesh.

The flawless finishing touch was then provided by Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib. Mushfiqur, who appeared to be in excellent form, was caught running out after scoring 25 off of 15.

As Bangladesh produced a score that ended up winning the match, Shakib smashed 18 balls and was still unbeaten at 32.

There was always hope for Afghanistan in a benign pitch. But it suffered a severe setback when, in the second over, Shoriful skillfully swung one to trap Rahmanullah Gurbaz leg-before for just one.

Gurbaz, a natural attacking batter, was quickly dismissed, making Bangladesh the game’s apparent favorite.

Shoriful was still working. In this batting haven, his first spell of 4-1-8-1 was also crucial in suffocating Afghanistan.

Ibarhim Zadran and Rahmat Shah added a sluggish 78 runs off of 97 runs for the second wicket, ensuring that Afghanistan would not be able to reach the mark.

Later on, though, Zadran made up for it and scored a team-high 75 points off 74, including 10 fours and one six. Rahmat’s 33 came off 57 balls, though.

The other player to reach fifty was the skipper Hasmatullah Shahidi (51), but it didn’t really matter.

After Taskin Ahmed rocked Rahmat’s stump, Zadran appeared to be a threat, but Hasan Mahmud had Mushfiqur Rahim catch him.

Bangladesh’s bowlers consistently made gains, guaranteeing Afghanistan’s defeat.