Bangladesh sealed the tickets of the semi-final by beating Afghanistan in the Emerging Asia Cup at P Sara Oval, Colombo.
Bangladesh successfully defended the target of 309 runs, as they restricted the Afghans to 287-8 in 50 overs in the must-win match of the group stage.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib grabbed three wickets with Rakibul Hasan and Soumya Sarkar picking up a couple of wickets each for Bangladesh.
Riaz Hassan and Bahir Shah registered half-centuries, as they scored 78 and 53 runs respectively. Nur Ali Zadran and Shahidullah scored 44 runs each but it wasn't enough to seize the win from the Tigers.
Earlier, Mahmudul Hasan Joy smashed a century and Zakir aided with a half-century as Bangladesh scored a strong total of 308-7 in the allotted 50 overs after opting to bat first.
Opener Naim Sheikh (18) survived a hit-wicket but failed to capitalize on the second chance, getting removed by Mohammad Saleem after he got rid of Tanzid Tamim (9).
Saleem scalped two more wickets including the prized wicket of Joy who scored 114-ball 100 featuring 12 boundaries and two wickets.
Soumya fell short of two runs to register a fifty as he was dismissed for 48 off 42 aided by three 4’s and an equal number of sixes.
Mahedi Hasan played a brute knock of 36 off 19 with six boundaries and a solitary six.
