The match took place at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, but the pitch and the crowd were such that Bangladesh’s method during yesterday’s 62-run win against Afghanistan was straight from the Mirpur playbook.

Just under five months ago, Sabbir Rahman was rushed back early into the Bangladesh squad through board-level tinkering with the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s own six-month disciplinary ban.

With the pitch at Southampton being a slow one, on which Afghanistan’s spin trio of Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi had bullied the famed Indian batting lineup on Saturday, there was fear of how Bangladesh would fare against the same trio on the same wicket.

He had become the first Bangladesh batsman to reach the landmark of 1000 runs in World Cups during Bangladesh’s innings against Afghanistan. More was in store for Shakib as he picked up wickets with the ball after scoring 51 during Bangladesh’s innings.

Bangladesh have defeated Afghanistan by 62 runs as Mohammad Saifuddin picked up the last wicket, bowling out Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Shakib Al Hasan was the hero for the Tigers, picking up five wickets for 29 runs.

Bangladesh and Afghanistan are the two teams among 10 in the World Cup that not many would have given much chance of going deep into the tournament when it began.

Sri Lanka’s upset win over England on Friday has breathed some life into a World Cup that was heading into predictable territory and Bangladesh may be one of the teams to benefit in the race to the semifinals, if they play their cards right. And that starts with winning tomorrow’s match against Afghanistan in Southampton’s Rose Bowl.

Changes may be in the offing for Bangladesh when they take on Pakistan on Wednesday in what will be a virtual Asia Cup semifinal at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. They won their last match against Afghanistan in thrilling fashion Sunday when Mustafizur Rahman conceded just four runs when Afghanistan needed eight to win in the last over.

Before yesterday, Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan had played four ODIs and three T20s against Bangladesh. Handling the world-class leg-spinner has always been a bothersome prospect for the Tigers. In each of the four previous ODIs that Rashid played against Bangladesh, he had managed more than one wicket and did not give away over 40 runs in any of those games.

Fizz’s fantastic final over yesterday, saw Bangladesh successfully defend eight runs in the last over in a tight match where Afghans looked like they were in the driving seat with wickets in hand.

Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah Riyad singles out Mustafizur Rahman for special praise after the left-arm pacer kept his nerve and overcame cramps to bowl a last over for the ages, conceding just four runs when Afghanistan needed eight to win.

Far from being burdened by the responsibility, Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah says he relishes the opportunities to fish his team out of trouble

Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah Riyad revels in winning a close game after having been on the wrong side of dramatic finishes in the past

When Imrul Kayes was sleeping in Khulna just two days ago, perhaps even he did not dream that he would be the one to steady the ship alongside Mahmudullah Riyad on his comeback to the national team with Bangladesh reeling at 87 for five against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup.

Mustafizur Rahman bowled a superb last over, conceding just four runs when eight were needed, as Bangladesh won the Asia Cup Super Four match against Afghanistan by three runs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Bangladesh batsman Mushffiqu Rahim became the third player from the country to reach 5,000 ODI runs.

The rule for two new balls to be used from both ends introduced new dimension to cricket and during their last Asia Cup game against India, Bangladesh faced the new ball from two ends with a new opening pair. With an unstable opening pair and the loss of Tamim Iqbal to injury, the Tigers have not seen the familiar Tamim-Shakib Al Hasan partnerships which thrived in the recent few series.

Bangladesh’s Asia Cup campaign hangs in the balance after their defeat to India in the first Super Four match. They lost to Afghanistan as well in the last group phase match and will face them today, seeking to win and stay in the competition. The Tigers’ vice-captain Shakib Al Hasan believed that his team has the ability to turn things around and overcome their conquerors from the group stage.

We look at the possible scenarios and equations which will Bangladesh alive in the tournament after today's matches are played.

Afghanistan captain Asghar Afghan won the toss and elected to field in their last Asia Cup Group B match against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi.