AFG vs BAN Ball by Ball Commentary

OUT! TAKEN! BILAL SAMI WITH THE FIFE-FER! What a match this inning it was for this young 21-year-old! He bowls it short, just outside off. Hasan Mahmud charges down the track to hit big, but the ball connects the upper part of his bat. It loops toward a couple of yards left of the keeper. Ikram Alikhil does well to have a jog, judge the skier, and glove the catch just in front of chest. Afghanistan wins the match by 200 runs!

Googly, on off. Nahid Rana rocks back to cut it away, but as he sees the ball attacking the stump, he drops his bat quickly to defend.

Full, on leg. Hasan Mahmud pushes it toward the right of the square leg fielder for one run.

Much fuller, outside off. Hasan Mahmud drives it toward cover.

Pitches it up, on off. Nahid Rana once again heaves from the inner part of his bat toward the right of square leg and takes the single.

Fuller, on middle, angling in. Nahid Rana goes for a wild swing and the ball hits the inner half of his bat toward sqaure leg.

Pitches it up, on off. Nahid Rana leans on the delivery and eases it away.

Much fuller, outside off. Nahid Rana drills it toward sweeper cover for a single.

Bouncer, on off middle. Nahid Rana tries to leave the delivery but reacts a bit late. The ball hits the right shoulder of the batter and bounces toward point.

Pitches it up, just outside off. Nahid Rana pushes it toward mid off.

Appeal for caught behind, but no says the umpire! Afghanistan takes the review. Bilal Sami bowls back of a length outside off, around seventh stump. Nahid Rana rocks back and dabs it down but misses on the outer edge. The UltraEdge shows no bat involvement when the ball passes the outside edge. Afghanistan still has a review left in his pocket.

Fullish, angling down the leg. Hasan Mahmud flicks it toward fine leg for a single.

Bumper, outside off. Hasan Mahmud looks to hook at it but misses.

Short, around middle. Hasan Mahmud nudges it toward wide mid-wicket for one run.

Short, around off. Hasan Mahmud slices the drive toward backward point. Nahid Rana sets off calling a single, but Mahmud rejects it quickly. Rana responds late, but the fielder picking the ball fails to pick it for the first time and the batters gets time to settle down.

Short, on off and middle. Hasan Mahmud blocks it back to the bowler.

Short, outside off. Hasan Mahmud looks to cuts and misses it.

Full and on off. Hasan Mahmud lunges to block it toward the leg side but gets beaten on the outer edge.

Short, outside off. Hasan Mahmud looks to cut but misses.

Yorker, just outside off. Nahid Rana jams it away.

OUT! IN THE AIR... TAKEN! Bilal Sami credits his fourth one! Bilal Sami bowls a slower short-length delivery, on off, shaping it in, to test the patience of the batter. Rishad Hossain falls for it, as he looks to cash it out by pulling it uppishly, but fails to get the timing right. The ball loops toward the right and front of Gurbaz, who is the short mid-wicket fielder. He sprints toward the skier, slides down and takes it safely into his hands.

Pitches it up, on middle and leg. Hasan Mahmud, with no footwork tries to flick it away but gets the leading edge toward point, where no fielder was stationed. Single taken in between the wickets.

FOUR! Good shot! Bilal Sami bowls it fuller, outside off. Hasan Mahmud drills it toward the sweeper cover fence for a boundary.

Fullish, on off and middle Hasan Mahmud works it toward mid-wicket for no run.

Pitches it up, down the leg. Rishad Hossain looks to swipe but manages to tickle it from the inner part of his bat toward deep fine leg for a single.

Tad fuller, on off and middle. Hasan Mahmud rocks back to dab it down the track.

Pitches it up, just outside off. Hasan Mahmud leans on the delivery and pushes it toward cover.

Tossed up, on off. Hasan Mahmud blocks it down the track.

Fullish, on off and middle. Hasan Mahmud attempts an off drive but gets the inner edge toward the leg stump.

Rashid Khan drags his length back, outside off. Hasan Mahmud tries to punch it away but misses.

Pitches it up, on middle and leg. Hasan Mahmud nudges it toward mid-wicket.

Play and a miss! Bilal Sami bowls it tad fuller, into the corridor of uncertainty. Rishad Hossain opens his stance to heave it across the line, but misses the hit with a large gap to his outer edge.

Good-length delivery, on off. Hasan Mahmud eases it toward cover for a single.

On a length, on off. Hasan Mahmud pushes it toward cover.

Back of a length, around off. Hasan Mahmud looks to punch it away but misses on the outer edge.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Another one bites the dust! Bilal Sami gets his third one! He bowls it fuller, on off and middle. Tanvir Islam clears his front foot and tries to punch it uppishly toward downtown, but fails to get the elevation, as the ball flies straight toward the left of the bowler, where he picks the catch just toward the left of the lower abdomen. Bangladesh loses their eighth wicket.

FOUR! First boundary after 36 deliveries! Bowls it much fuller, outside off. Tanvir Islam hangs back and punches it toward deep cover for a boundary.

Too full from Rashid around middle and off, Rishad Hossain slogs this off the bottom towards deep mid-wicket for two.

Tossed up on off, Rishad Hossain blocks this out.

Tossed up on off, Tanvir Islam flicks this through mid-wicket for one.

OUT! LBW! Fuller, around middle and off, Nurul Hasan lunges towards the pitch of the delivery but gets beaten as the ball spins into the batter. Nurul Hasan gets hit on his front pad and an appeal is all that the umpire needed to raise his finger. Nurul Hasan sends this upstairs in hope more than conviction. Ball Tracker shows that the ball would have clipped the leg stump, and the on-field decision of OUT stays.

Tossed up on off, Nurul Hasan prods in front and blocks again.

Floated on off, Nurul Hasan jams this out.

Good length on the pads, Nurul Hasan gets inside the line and flicks this through backward square for one.

Back of a length on off, Rishad Hossain guides this to third man region for one.

WIDE! Bumper, way too high outside off. Rishad Hossain leaves it. Wided.

Another short one from Bilal Sami, wide of off. Rishad Hossain leaves it all alone.

Short-pitched, around off, Nurul Hasan hooks this to long leg for one.

OUT! SHAMIM HOSSAIN IS RUN OUT! That's a casual approach from Shamim Hossain! Bilal Sami bowls it fuller, around off. Nurul Hasan pushes it toward the left of the extra cover fielder. Hossain sets off a bit early but gets sent back by Hasan and rightfully so. Nangeyalia Kharote sees the opportunity and charges toward the ball, picks it up and throws it directly to the non-striker's end and hits the stumps directly. Appeal for runout from Afghanistan and they seem very confident with it. This is sent upstairs. The TV umpire shows that Hossain is a bit late reaching his home when the ball hits the stumps. Shamim Hossain has to walk back.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Poor from the Bangladesh skipper as he throws his wicket away. Back of a length around off, Mehidy Hasan Miraz stands upright and goes for the big booming drive through cover. The ball doesn't do anything and holds its line as it edges off the outside of Mehidy Hasan Miraz's bat back to the keeper. Ikram Alikhil makes no mistake and pouches this with ease.

Fuller on off, Shamim Hossain defends it well.

OUT! TIMBER! Rahid's too hot to handle for Saif Hassan or any Bangladesh batter, it seems. Wrong'un around off, turning back into the batter. Saif Hassan prods in front and plays for the one spinning away. The ball beats Saif on the inside and goes on to hit the woodwork.

Tossed up on off, Saif Hassan pushes this back to the bowler for no run.

Fuller on middle and leg, Mehidy Hasan Miraz flicks this through mid on for one.

Tossed up on off, Saif Hassan drives this to long off for one.

Fuller on off, Saif Hassan blocks this one.

DROPPED! Saif Hassan gets a lifeline on 41 as the substitute fielder, Darwish Rasooli, drops him. Short and wide outside off, Saif Hassan looks to cut this over backward point but swipes under it, gets a top edge towards the front and left of Rasooli at third man region. Darwish sprints toward the skier, tumbles away to gather this above the ground, but the ball pops out of his hands while landing. A single taken.

Back of a length on the pads, Mehidy Hasan Miraz gets inside the line of it and flicks this through mid-wicket for one.

Good cricket all around. A good short one, on off by Bilal and Saif Hassan, matches that with a good punch, up on his toes to sweeper cover for one.

Short and wide of off, Miraz smashes this to sweeper cover for one.

Bilal hits the hard length, wide of off. Mehidy Hasan Miraz tentatively pokes at it but gets beaten on the outside. Time for the slip to be placed by Hashmatullah Shahidi?

Back of a length on the pads, Saif Hassan tucks this through backward square leg for one.

Flaoted on off, Saif Hassan nudges this through square leg for one more.

Fuller on the pads, Mehidy Hasan Miraz flicks this through square leg for one.

Short of a length on off, Mehidy Hasan Miraz rocks back and pulls this towards the space at the deep mid-wicket region for some runs. The ball was racing to the fence but a valiant effort from Darwish Rasooli, on as a substitute for Rahmanullah Gurbaz, saves two for the side. Darwish Rasooli chases this from mid-wicket and puts in a dive to keep this inside the playing area.

Slider on off, Mehidy Hasan Miraz prods in front to block but gets beaten on the outside.

Fuller on off, Mehidy Hasan Miraz defends this one.

OUT! TIMBER! Instant impact from Rashid Khan. Quicker one, turning into the batter around off. Tawhid Hridoy goes deep inside the crease and looks to punch this around mid off, but the ball spins back into the batter and at some pace. The pace, more than spin, does the trick for Rashid and Afghanistan as the ball goes through the gate between Hridoy's bat and his pads onto the stumps.

Fuller on off, Saif Hassan flicks this to mid-wicket for a dot. Just 3 off the over after the drinks break.

Short and wide on off, Tawhid Hridoy rocks back and punches this through cover for one.

Quicker one on off, Tawhid Hridoy drops this around short leg for no run.

Fuller on the pads, Saif Hassan flicks this through square leg for one.

Tossed up around off, Saif Hassan looks to cut this late but misses.

Fuller on off, Tawhid Hridoy cuts this through point for one.

FOUR! That's a cracking shot for four. Short and wide outside off, Saif Hassan hops up on his toes, gets into a perfect position to cut this one and cuts it well over backward point for a boundary towards the deep third region. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, from deep point, gives it a chase to cut off some runs for the side but overruns it and the ball goes across the fence behind him. Gurbaz appears to have done his hamstring here with the way he was holding it before dragging himself off the field.

Good length on off, Saif Hassan tuck this to mid-wicket for no run.

Back of a length on off, Tawhid Hridoy rocks onto his back foot, drops this around backward short leg and runs a quick one.

Short-pitched, on off, Tawhid Hridoy pulls this flat towards the left of Rashid Khan at deep square and takes two with ease. Good signs for Afghanistan as Rashid appeared to have shrugged that shoulder niggle off.

Back of a length on off, Tawhid Hridoy keeps this out with a block.

Good length on off, Tawhid Hridoy defends this well.

Another one quicker at a flatter trajectory on off. Saif Hassan goes deep in his crease and pushes this to the left of short mid-wicket for a dot.

Quicker and flatter on off, Saif Hassan pushes this towards short cover.

Fired around off, Saif Hassan blocks this one.

Fuller on off, Tawhid Hridoy drives this to long off for one.

Was it a flicker from AM Ghazanfar? We will see. This was a fuller one, around middle and leg, Tawhid Hridoy goes for the flick but misses out and gets hit on the pads. A loud appeal from the fielding side but the umpire turns it down. The Afghans think about sending this upstairs but decide against it. The replay shows there was an inside edge on it.

Fuller on off, Tawhid Hridoy blocks this back to the bowler.

Good length on off, Tawhid Hridoy pushes this towards long off for one.

OUT! CHOPPED ON! Bilal Sami comes round the wicket, bowls a tad short with the ball nipping back in sharply. Najmul Hossain Shanto doesn't move his feet an inch and swings his bat at it. The inward movement is too much for Shanto who gets it edged off the inside back onto his stumps.

Back of a length on off, Saif Hassan guides this to the third man region for one.

That's a poor delivery from Bilal as he bowls one short and wide outside off, Shanto cuts this well towards the right of Rashid Khan at deep point for one. Rashid does well to keep it down to just one with his brilliance in the field.

Good length on the pads, Saif Hassan comes inside the line of it and flicks this through square leg for one.

Back of a length on off, Saif Hassan hops up on his toes and dabs this to point for no run.

Tossed up, on the pads, Najmul Hossain Shanto flicks this straight to backward square leg for no run.

Leggie, on middle and leg. Najmul Hossain Shanto looks to block it but the ball spins in and beats Shanto on the inside. The ball spoons off the pads and drops around short leg.

Tossed up on off, Saif Hassan dabs this in front of cover and takes a quick single.

Quicker one on middle and leg, Saif tucks this to mid-wicket for no run.

Tossed up on off, Najmul Hossain Shanto shuffles away from the stumps and drives this to long off for one.

NHS is beaten all ends up but the ball appears to be going down the leg and that saves Shanto. Quicker one on middle and leg, angling into the batter. Najmul Hossain Shanto looks to drive this to long off but gets beaten and is hit on the back pad. A loud appeal for LBW but the umpire turns it down.

Short of a length, on middle and leg, Najmul pulls this to deep square leg and gets off the mark with a single.

Back of a length on off, the ball keeps low. Najmul Hossain Shanto punches this half-heartedly towards cover for another dot. Shanto is on 0 after 9 balls.

Azmat bowls a touch fuller, on off. Najmul Hossain Shanto leans low and blocks this underneath his eyeline.

On a length around off, Najmul Hossain Shanto gets behind the line of it and blocks it out.

Good length, wide of off, Najmul Hossain Shanto gives it a good look and leaves it all alone.

Good length on off, Najmul Hossain Shanto drives this to cover for no run.

Pitches it up, on off. Saif Hassan lunges and defends it toward cover for no run.

Full, angling in. Saif Hassan knocks it toward mid-wicket.

SIX! It's a majestic hit from Saif Hassan! AM Ghazanfar bowls it fuller, pitching it on off and turns it away. Saif Hassan gets down on his one knee and sweeps it up and over deep mid-wicket for half a dozen.

Full-length delivery, around off. Saif Hassan leans on the delivery and fends it toward cover.

Fuller, around off. Saif Hassan opens the face of his willow to steer it toward point.

Pitches it up, on off. Saif Hassan gets to his front and defends it toward cover.

On a length, on off. Najmul Hossain Shanto fends it away.

Azmatullah Omarzai scoots round the stumps, bends back and fires a bouncer, on middle and leg. Najmul Hossain Shanto detects the short delivery and instantly ducks under it.

Good-length delivery, on off and middle. Najmul Hossain Shanto clips it toward mid-wicket for no run.

On a length, angling in toward the stumps. Najmul Hossain Shanto defends it to his front foot.

OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! Azmatullah Omarzai draws the first blood for Afghanistan! Omarzai bowls it on a good length, pitching it outside off and shaping it a bit away. Mohammad Naim walks off the crease and looks to lash it over the cover region, but the ball kisses the outside edge and flies off toward to right of the first slip fielder. Mohammad Nabi is the man who is standing in the region and does well to react quickly and reverse cup the catch to the right of his head. Bangladesh loses their first batter!

Back of a length, outside off, around the sixth stump. Saif Hassan steers it toward the deep third man fielder for a single.

Much fuller, angling in toward the stumps. Saif Hassan digs it toward long off for a single.

SIX! BOOM! That would ease some pressure off the shoulders!  AM Ghazanfar bowls it much fuller, just outside off. Saif Hassan crouches down and sweeps it uppishly over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

AM Ghazanfar drags his length back, outside off. Saif Hassan cuts it toward point.

Fullish, on off. Saif Hassan blocks it to his front.

Fuller, on middle and leg. Saif Hassan defends it toward the leg side. Bangladesh are under immense pressure.

Shortish, on off and middle. Saif Hassan rocks back and dabs it low.

On a length, around off. Mohammad Naim pats it toward cover.

Beaten! On a length, pitching it just outside off, angling in, but nips it away from the batter. Naim rocks back to block it down, but misses on the outer edge.

Good-length delivery, on off and middle. Mohammad Naim clips it toward mid-wicket for no run.

On a length, on middle and leg. Saif Hassan tucks it toward deep square leg for a single.

Back of a length, outside off. Mohammad Naim chops it toward point for a single.

Short of a length, outside off. Mohammad Naim mistimes his cut toward cover.

Fuller, around off. Mohammad Naim looks to drive it toward cover, but gets the inside edge, toward square leg. They cross for a single.

Pitches it up, outside off, spinning it in, toward the off stump. Mohammad Naim tries to paddle sweep it, but misses and gets hit on the helmet. The ball bounces toward short third for no run.

Pitches it up, on off. Mohammad Naim pushes it toward cover.

Full and on the stumps. Mohammad Naim flicks it toward mid on for no run. Nothing on the Free Hit then!

NO BALL! AM Ghazanfar has overstepped and has to pay the price now! Fuller, on middle and leg. Saif Hassan clips it toward square leg for a single. Free Hit upcoming!

Pitches it up, on middle and leg. Saif Hassan works it toward mid-wicket.

Fuller, on off. Mohammad Naim leans on the delivery to push it away, but gets the inner edge toward square leg. They cross for a single.

Short of a length, wide outside off. Saif Hassan lets it travel to the keeper.

On a length, on off. Saif Hassan defends it away.

Hard-length delivery, pitching it just outside off and angling it in. Saif Hassan gets behind the delivery and blocks it away.

Good-length delivery, into the corridor of uncertainty. Saif Hassan prods to cover the stump and lets it through.

Pitches it up this time, just outside off. Saif Hassan leans on the delivery and defends it down the track.

FOUR! Pure class from Saif Hassan! Omarzai bowls it short and outside off. Saif Hassan trusts the width of the delivery, hops a bit and punches it between the cover and extra cover fielders for four more runs.

Shortish, on the leg stump. Saif Hassan rocks back and clips it toward square leg for a single.

Fullish, on off. Saif Hassan lunges to ease it toward the off side.

Short, on off and middle. Mohammad Naim tucks it toward sqaure leg for a single.

Fuller, on off. Mohammad Naim presses forward to defend it toward cover.

Short, and outside off, spinning it in toward the off stump. Mohammad Naim camps back to cut it away but the ball comes closer to the batter and he cramps for room. The ball bounces off toward the off side for no run.

Fuller, on off. Mohammad Naim lunges to defend it right under his eyesight.

Short of a length, outside off. Saif Hassan lets it travel to the keeper.

SIX! Oh... what a shot that is! Azmatullah Omarzai bowls a bouncer, on off and middle, attacking the batter's lane. Saif Hassan seems to be ready for a short-length delivery, as he stays back in his crease and pulls it uppishly but firmly to clear the deep square leg fence for the first biggie of the inning.

Good-length delivery, on middle. Mohammad Naim dabs it toward the front of the square leg fielder and gets a single.

Play and a miss! Slower and fuller, pitching it outside off and shaping it away. Mohammad Naim lunges to knock it toward cover, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Back of a length, around off. Mohammad Naim rocks back to dab it away.

That one jags back in! Azmatullah Omarzai runs from over the wicket to the left-hander, bowls it on a length, on middle and off, and nips it back. Mohammad Naim dabs it from the inner half of the bat onto his pad toward the off side.

Pitches it up, on middle, angling it down. Mohammad Naim gets to his front foot to ease it toward wide mid on for a single.

Short, on middle and leg. Mohammad Naim strides out to defend it down but gets beaten on the inner edge and wears it on the pad.

Fuller, on middle and leg. Saif Hassan flicks it off his pads toward backward square leg for one run.

Fullish, on off and middle. Saif Hassan again goes deep into his crease to defend it down.

Full-length delivery, on middle and leg. Saif Hassan hangs back and tuck it toward sqaure leg.

Pitches it up, on off and middle. Saif Hassan prods to block it toward the off side.

WIDE! Fuller, but darts it down the leg. Saif Hassan flicks at it but misses.

A shorter one to end the over, on middle and leg. Mohammad Naim ducks underneath the delivery. 5 runs to end the first over!

Pitches it up, around off. Saif Hassan guides it toward backward point for a single.

Back of a length, wide outside off. Saif Hassan lets it through.

Azmatullah Omarzai takes off the second slip and is now going with one slip only. He bowls it fuller, on off and middle, nips it in. Mohammad Naim looks to flick it to his front but gets nicked on the inner edge and the ball hits the pad to roll toward wide mid-wicket. They cross for a single. Naim is off his mark.

Azmatullah Omarzai scoots round the wicket and bowls it fuller, on middle. Mohammad Naim flicks it toward square leg.

Hard-length delivery, angling away from the left-hander. Mohammad Naim shoulder arms the delivery.

WIDE! Back of a length, angling it wide outside off, beyond the tramline. Mohammad Naim offers no shot at it.

Good-length delivery to start the inning, on off, shaping it in. Saif Hassan nudges it toward the square leg region for a single. Saif Hassan and Bangladesh are underway!