Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Najmul Hossain Shanto delivered when it mattered the most by hitting centuries as Bangladesh registered an emphatic 89-run win over Afghanistan to keep themselves alive in the Asia Cup here on Sunday.

While Miraz amassed 112 runs off 119 deliveries, Shanto picked up where he left off in the previous game, with a 105-ball 104 to take Bangladesh to a commanding 334/5 after opting to bat.

The Bangladesh bowlers, led by Taskin Ahmed (4/44 in 8.3 overs) and Shoriful Islam (3/36 in 9 overs), then joined the party as they struck at regular intervals to bowl out Afghanistan for 245 in 44.3 overs despite the best efforts of Ibrahim Zadran (75 off 74) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (51).

Bangladesh are in the second spot in Group B, while Afghanistan need to win their final game against Sri Lanka for a chance to progress to the Super Four stage.

Chasing 335, Afghanistan struggled to maintain the required run rate which kept on increasing as the Bangladeshi bowlers bowled dot balls to build pressure on their opponents.

Earlier, the Bangladesh batting unit gave a good account of itself. But the Afghanistan bowlers were guilty of leaking runs, especially left-arm medium pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi (0/53 in 6 overs). Even star spinner Rashid Khan (0/66 in 10 overs) was ineffective.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 334/5 in 50 ovs (Mehidy Hasan 112, Najmul Hossain Shanto 104). Afghanistan 245 in 44.3 ovs (Ibrahim Zadran 75; Taskin Ahmed 4/44). Bangladesh won by 89 runs.

PTI