Watch: Bangladesh get perfect 2nd innings start with Sediqullah Atal dismissal in BAN vs AFG Asia Cup 2025

After scoring 154/5 in the must-win Asia Cup 2025 fixture against Afghanistan, Bangladesh got a perfect start with a wicket in the second innings.

It is a must-win game for Bangladesh to stay in the contest for the Super Fours qualification in the Asia Cup 2025, as a defeat in their last game of the Group B against Afghanistan will confirm their group stage exit from the tournament. Meanwhile, they will stay in the contest with a victory in this match, while Afghanistan’s defeat against Sri Lanka in the last game of Group B will guide the Tigers to the Super Fours stage. But if Afghanistan beat Sri Lanka, the net run rate will come into play as all these three teams will have four points each. Currently, Bangladesh are well behind in the net run rate.

Nasum Ahmed dismissed Sediqullah Atal for a golden duck

Chasing down the 155-run target, Afghanistan got a blow on the first ball of the innings, as their opener Sediqullah Atal, who scored Afghanistan’s highest runs 73 not out in their first game of the tournament against Hong Kong, was dismissed for a golden duck. Left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed started the innings with the ball, and he successfully managed to trap the Afghan opener. It was a flighted good length delivery on the stumps, while the ball skidded on, and Atal completely failed to handle that ball at the back foot. It hit on his pad, and it was a plumb, while Atal did not doubt, as he didn’t waste a review. Afghanistan scored their first run in the innings after nine dot deliveries, as their first run came from a wide delivery.

Bangladesh struggled in second half of their innings

Talking about Bangladesh's innings, their openers Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan set a great platform with a 63-run partnership for the first wicket. While Saif scored 30 off 28 balls, Tanzid scored 52 off 31 balls. Apart from them, only Towhid Hridoy (26) managed to reach the 20-run mark in that innings. Bangladesh recorded 67/4 in the last 10 overs, as Afghan spinners dominated in the second half.