Nabi, Shahidi deliver Afghanistan big win in low-scorer

Afghanistan sounded a stern warning to Bangladesh in their warm-up match in Fatullah by beating BCB XI by 66 runs in a low-scoring match. Hashmatullah Shahidi's 69 was supported by Mohammad Nabi, who took four wickets to help Afghanistan defend 233.

BCB XI put out a strong line-up with eight international players but they were upended by Afghanistan's bowlers. Mosaddek Hossain top-scored with a 97-ball 76.

The BCB XI slipped to 39 for 4 as fast bowler Karim Janat had Imrul Kayes caught at mid-on in the fourth over before Anamul Haque skied left-arm pace bowler Fareed Ahmed in the next over. Sabbir Rahman then flicked Fareed to square leg and Mohammad Nabi had Liton Das stumped for 6.

Mosaddek and Mehedi Hasan Miraz stabilised BCB XI with a 56-run, fifth-wicket stand. Miraz, though, was run out for 15 after backing up too far in the non-striker's end in the 25th over.

Mosaddek then kept a check on the asking rate during his sixth-wicket stand with Shuvagata Hom, the pair adding 59 in the next nine overs. Just when Mosaddek was looked to attack, he was beautifully bowled by Mohammad Nabi in the 34th over, the contest's defining moment.

Legspinner Rashid Khan's googly then removed Alauddin Babu for a duck, as the chase slowly withered. Nabi picked up his third and fourth wickets in the 38th over when Al-Amin was brilliantly caught at deep square leg by Amir Hamza and Shuvagata Hom fell for 34, Janat taking the catch at mid-off. Fareed and Rashid took two wickets each.

Put into bat, the visitors were bowled out with four balls to spare. Their score wouldn't have crossed the 200-run mark had it not been for Hashmatullah Shahidi's 69 after Afghanistan had slipped to 47 for 3 in the 15th over.

Afghanistan were sluggish for most of the innings until Shahidi's 63-run fourth-wicket stand with captain Asghar Stanikzai, who chipped in with 31. Rashid made 30 off 24 balls at no. 6 with four boundaries, but Shahidi fell in the 46th over when Afghanistan's platform had been laid. Mirwais Ashraf's 19-ball 32, the innings that featured three fours and two sixes, ensured a competitive total.

Seaming allrounder Babu and offspinner Miraz claimed three wickets. Left-arm quick Abu Hider and right-arm pacer Subashis Roy took two wickets each.