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In their must-win clash, Afghanistan batters failed to stand up to the task. Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran shared another fifty-run partnership but their scoring rate was too low. The pressure was on Gurbaz in the slog overs as he had played too many dot balls. He struggled and got involved in a terrible mix-up with Azmatullah Omarzai between the wickets which led to both of them running for the same end. But Bangladesh fielders could not pull off the easiest of run outs one can get at the international stage.
The incident took place in the 16th over of the innings. Mustafizur Rahman bowled a slower back of a length delivery outside off. The wicketkeeper cut it to backward point fielder Rishad Hossain who fumbled. Gurbaz took a start and then went back while Omarzai kept running. They were at the same end but the throw was off target. Gurbaz slipped as he made his ground, got back up and then the batters started running to the non-striker’s end. Omarzai stopped running as better sense prevailed and Gurbaz was able to make his ground.
Shakib Al Hasan was left frustrated on seeing the comedy of errors as Bangladesh fielders failed to capitalise and Rishad’s throw was at the wrong end instead of just lobbing the ball to Mustafizur at non-striker’s.
Both batters fall quickly
However, Omarzai could not make the most of the reprieve and got out caught behind. He scored 10 runs from 12 balls. In the next over, Rishad made up for his faux pas and dismissed Gurbaz. The wicketkeeper-batter took the aerial route but was caught at deep point by Soumya Sarkar. He departed after scoring 43 runs from 55 balls including three fours and a six. It is the slowest knock by a batter in T20 World Cups who has faced 50 or more balls. Leg-spinner Rishad took three wickets and conceded 26 runs from his quota of four overs
Towards the end of the innings, skipper Rashid Khan’s unbeaten 10-ball 19 cameo helped Afghanistan post 115/5.
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