Afghanistan kept their slender hopes of reaching the World Twenty20 Super 10 stage alive with a seven-wicket victory over Hong Kong.
Having been thrashed by Bangladesh in their opening Group A encounter, Afghanistan were indebted to half-centuries from Mohammad Shahzad and Shafiqullah as they chased down a victory target of 154 with two overs to spare.
Having lost their opener against Nepal, Hong Kong’s second defeat all but ends their hopes of progressing to the next stage of the tournament.
Waqas Barkat, Jamie Atkinson and Mark Chapman all made useful contributions as Hong Kong posted a competitive 153 for eight in Chittagong.
Shazhad struck three sixes in his 53-ball 68, but when he became the third Afghan wicket to fall 38 runs were still required from 27 deliveries.
However, Shafiqullah cleared the ropes three times in Aizaz Khan’s 17th over, which cost 24 runs, before hitting the final ball of Haseeb Amjad’s next set of six to the square-leg boundary to bring up his fifty and victory simultaneously.
Afghanistan must now beat Nepal in their final game and hope Bangladesh slip-up in one of their two remaining fixtures.