After electing to bat first, Bangladesh struggled against Afghanistan’s disciplined bowling attack and were dismissed for just 160 runs in 41.2 overs. Afghanistan comfortably chased down the 161-run target, reaching 161 for three in 35.3 overs, with Rahmat Shah leading the way through an unbeaten 67.
Bangladesh entered the contest facing a difficult qualification equation. Following their 99-run defeat to Zimbabwe in the opening match, Towhid Hridoy’s side needed to beat Afghanistan by at least 41 runs to advance to the final.
Having managed only 160, Bangladesh needed to restrict Afghanistan to 119 or fewer to fulfil that requirement. However, their bowlers were unable to maintain the necessary pressure. Once Afghanistan moved beyond 119, Bangladesh’s hopes of progressing were extinguished, although the match itself remained unfinished.
Bangladesh’s batting performance had already left them in a vulnerable position. Their top order collapsed under sustained pressure from Afghanistan’s pace attack, with Yamin Ahmadzai dismissing Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Soumya Sarkar in consecutive deliveries during the second over.
Azmatullah Omarzai then compounded Bangladesh’s difficulties by removing Najmul Hossain Shanto and captain Towhid Hridoy. The visitors were reduced to 28 for four inside seven overs, leaving the middle order with a substantial rebuilding task.
Parvez Hossain Emon and Saif Hassan offered the only significant resistance. The pair added 93 runs for the fifth wicket, temporarily stabilising the innings and providing Bangladesh with an opportunity to post a more competitive total.
Emon emerged as Bangladesh’s leading scorer, making a determined 70 from 96 deliveries, including five boundaries and two sixes. Saif supported him with a patient 41 from 82 balls.
Their partnership demonstrated the value of occupying the crease, but the recovery proved short-lived. Following Saif’s dismissal, Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals as Afghanistan’s spinners tightened their control.
Rashid Khan played a decisive role in dismantling the remaining batting line-up. The experienced leg-spinner returned impressive figures of four wickets for 31 runs, preventing Bangladesh from building on the foundation established by Emon and Saif.
Ahmadzai and Omarzai also contributed two wickets apiece, ensuring Afghanistan retained control throughout most of the innings. Bangladesh eventually fell well short of completing their allotted 50 overs.
Afghanistan’s pursuit of the modest target was not entirely trouble-free. Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed provided an encouraging start by dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal, reducing Afghanistan to 39 for two in the seventh over.
Those early breakthroughs briefly raised hopes of a Bangladesh fightback. However, Rahmat Shah and Ibrahim Zadran responded with a composed third-wicket partnership worth 56 runs.
Zadran contributed 34 before falling to Mustafizur Rahman, but Rahmat remained firmly in control. He combined with Hashmatullah Shahidi to guide Afghanistan towards victory without allowing Bangladesh another opportunity to regain momentum.
Rahmat completed his half-century and remained unbeaten on 67 from 90 deliveries, while Shahidi finished on 36 not out. Their unbroken 66-run partnership secured victory with 87 balls remaining.
Taskin finished with two wickets for 36 runs, while Mustafizur claimed the other Afghanistan wicket. Despite the early success, Bangladesh’s bowling attack had too few runs to defend against an increasingly confident Afghanistan batting line-up.
The victory continued Afghanistan’s impressive campaign after their commanding 158-run triumph over Zimbabwe earlier in the tournament. Having won both group-stage matches, Afghanistan will enter the final with considerable confidence.
For Bangladesh, the competition ended without a victory. Defeats against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan exposed familiar concerns surrounding batting consistency, particularly the inability of the top order to establish partnerships and the middle and lower order to maintain momentum under pressure.
Although Emon’s half-century provided an encouraging individual performance, the collective batting effort remained insufficient. Bangladesh’s inability to use their full allocation of overs also proved costly in a format where building partnerships and preserving wickets are essential.
Afghanistan will now face Zimbabwe in the tri-series final at Sharjah on Friday, 23 October, with both teams competing for the championship.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, leave the tournament with significant areas requiring improvement. Their performances have underlined the need for greater batting discipline, stronger partnerships and more consistent execution if they are to deliver better results in upcoming international assignments.