, Sept. 17 -- Bangladesh clung on by the skin of their teeth on Tuesday night, pulling off an eight-run win over Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi to keep their Asia Cup hopes alive.

It was scrappy, tense, and far closer than it needed to be, but for now Litton Das and his men will take it.

Opting to bat first, Bangladesh began brightly thanks to Tanzid Hasan, who lit up the powerplay with 52 off 31 balls. He looked in full command, launching four fours and three sixes, and alongside Saif Hassan (30) gave Bangladesh exactly the sort of start they had been crying out for in this tournament.

At 63 without loss in the seventh over, they looked on course for something around 180.

But as so often, the innings lost shape. Litton scratched to nine be...