Afghanistan completed a nail-biting, historic two-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the second one-day international in Dhaka yesterday to level the series.
Asghar Stanikzai (57) and Mohamed Nabi (49) stabilised the innings with a 107-runs stand for the fifth wicket, before Bangladesh fought back with three wickets in 19 runs to put the visitors on the back foot.
However, with three balls remaining in the match, Dawlat Zadran’s outside edge flew over backward point to secure their second victory over Bangladesh, having first beaten the hosts in the 2014 Asia Cup.
Earlier, leg spinner Rashid Khan took 3-35 as Afghanistan dismissed Bangladesh for a modest 208 runs. Needing a win to bounce back in the three-match series, Afghanistan’s slow bowlers bowled brilliantly to restrict Bangladesh as off-spinner Mohamed Nabi claimed 2-16 in his 10 overs.
Medium pacer Mirwais Ashraf took 2-23 to complement the spin duo while leg-spinner Rahmat Shah and pacer Naveen-ul-Haq chipped in with vital wickets. Debutant middle-order batsman Mosaddek remained unbeaten on 45 to help Bangladesh pass the 200-run mark.
Put into bat first, Bangladesh, who were looking for their 100th ODI win to wrap-up the series after winning Sunday’s first match by a narrow seven runs, made a cautious start with opening pair fetching 45 runs.
Ashraf removed both the openers Tamim Iqbal (20) and Soumya Sarkar (20) before Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah revived the innings adding 61 runs for the third wicket. Afghan spinners took the control of the proceedings once Naveen-ul-Haq bowled Mahmudullah for 25.
Rahim, who scored 38, soon followed Mahmudullah attempting his favourite slow-sweep as Naveen-ul Haq took the catch at deep square leg off leg-spinner Shah. Nabi trapped Shakib Al Hasan leg-before for 17 before Rashid worked out the lower order.
Just when it looked as though Bangladesh were about to be dismissed well below 200 runs, Mosaddek, who replaced Imrul Kayes in the starting line-up, staged a fightback with last man Rubel Hossain. The duo put 43 runs in the last wicket pair before Rubel was out in second ball of the innings’ final over.
The third and final match of the series will be held on Saturday.

Scoreboard
Bangladesh innings
Tamim Iqbal c Dawlat b Ashraf  20
Soumya Sarkar c Hashmatullah c Ashraf  20
Mahmudullah Riyad b Naveen-ul-Haq  25
Mushfiqur Rahim c Naveen-ul-Haq b Shah  38
Shakib Al Hasan lbw Nabi  17
Sabbir Rahman lbw Rashid  4
Mosaddek Hossain not out  45
Mashrafe Mortaza c Dawlat b Nabi  2
Taijul Islam lbw Rashid Khan  10
Taskin Ahmed lbw Rashid Khan  0
Rubel Hossain run out  10
Extras (b1, lb7, w8, nb1)  17
Total (all out 49.2 overs)  208
Fall of wickets: 1-45(Tamim), 2-50 (Soumya), 3-111 (Mahmudullah), 4-122 (Rahim), 5-138 (Shakib), 6-138 (Sabbir), 7-141 (Mortaza), 8-165 (Taijul), 9-165 (Taskin), 10-208 (Rubel)
Bowling: Nabi 10-3-16-2, Dawlat 8-1-47-0(w4), Ashraf 5-0-23-2 Naveen-ul-Haq 8.2-0-49-1(w1), Rashid 10-2-35-3 (w1), Shah 8-0-30-1(nb1, w2)

Afghanistan innings
Mohamed Shahzad c Taskin b Shakib  35
Nawroz Mangal c Taijul b Shakib  10
Rahmat Shah lbw Shakib  0
Hashmatullah Shahidi lbw b Mosaddek  14
Asghar Stanikzai c Sabbir b Mosaddek  57
Mohamed Nabi lbw Mortaza  49
Najibullah Zadran c Mosaddek b Taskin  22
Rashid Khan lbw Shakib  5
Mirwais Ashraf not out  9
Dawlat Zadran not out  4
Extras (lb2, w5)  7
Total (eight wickets; 49.4 overs)  212
Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Mangal), 2-14 (Shah), 3-59 (Hashmatullah), 4-63 (Shahzad), 5-170 (Nabi), 6-174 ( tanikzai), 7-189 ( Rashid), 8-208 (Najibullah)
Did not bat: Naveen-ul-Haq
Bowling: Mortaza 10-0-31-1 (w2), Shakib 10-0-47-4, Taskin 4.4-0-32-1(w2), Taijul 10-0-38-0, Mosaddek 10-1-30-2 (w1), Sabbir 2-0-8-0, Rubel 3-0-24-0
Result: Afghanistan won by two wickets
Series Result: Three-match series tied 1-1