Asia Cup 2018: Super-4s, Match 4, Bangladesh vs Afghanistan – Statistical Preview

Afghanistan nearly took down Pakistan in their first game of the Super-4s round which could have sealed their qualification to the finals of the Asia Cup. Now they will be up against Bangladesh the team they defeated by a huge 136-run margin in the previous meeting.

Bangladesh, who were defeated twice in two days by huge margins, need a big win against Afghanistan to improve their NRR. If India repeat the annihilation over Pakistan in the forthcoming game, Bangladesh could find themselves alongside Afghanistan and Pakistan fighting for the second finalist spot where NRR becomes the key.

All the key stats and numbers ahead of the Super-4s game between Bangladesh and Afghanistan:

2 – Afghanistan won both their matches in the Asia Cup against Bangladesh. The overall head to head record between the two teams reads 3-3.

5-2 – Bangladesh’s win-loss record in ODI format while batting first in 2018. They won all the five games where they posted 200+ and lost both the matches in which they were bowled out under 200 this year while batting first.

5 – Afghanistan have won their previous five ODI matches where they chased a total. In all those five matches, the Afghans were put into bat after their opponent won the toss.

32.36 – Afghanistan’s bowling strike-rate of 32.36 in ODI cricket since the Champions Trophy 2017 is the best for any team (Min: 10 matches). Their average of 23.12 is also the best for any team. All the bowlers have collectively bagged 167 wickets in just 21 matches in these 15 months.

67 – Asghar Afghan ended his run-drought with a 67-run knock against Pakistan which was his first fifty in 18 ODI innings. He failed to cross 40 in his previous 17 innings prior to the game against Pakistan. Asghar’s last fifty-plus score in this format came in March 2017 where he scored 101 against Ireland.

115 – Rashid Khan became the leading wicket-taker for Afghanistan in the ODI format surpassing Mohammad Nabi with his 3-wicket haul in the game against Pakistan.

Rashid equalled Nabi in the game against Bangladesh. In fact, he surpassed the off-spinner during an ODI in Ireland shortly before Nabi picked up two quick wickets to regain the top spot.

4993 – Mushfiqur Rahim has scored 4993 runs in his ODI career thus far. He needs seven more runs to become the 3rd player after Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan to score 5000 ODI runs for Bangladesh.

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