1st ODI
Allah Ghazanfar has claimed the six wickets as Bangladesh has collapsed in their chase
Afghanistan scored 234 in 50 overs, where as Bangladesh scored 143 in 34.3 overs.
So, finally Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by 92 runs.
Bangladesh’s preparations for next year’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan got off to a rough start as they suffered a dramatic batting collapse.
Afghanistan’s 18-year-old offspinner Allah Ghazanfar was the architect of their downfall, claiming six wickets as Bangladesh crumbled from a solid 120 for 2 to a dismal 143 all-out in just 8.4 chaotic overs.
Though Ghazanfar made an early breakthrough by dismissing opener Tanzid Hasan in the fourth over, Bangladesh’s chase was initially in good hands as Soumya Sarkar and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto took control, keeping ahead of the required run rate.
However, Afghanistan’s medium-pacer Azmatullah Omarzai broke their 53-run partnership by removing Sarkar, and Bangladesh responded with another productive stand between Najmul and No. 4 batter Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
The pair took Bangladesh past the halfway mark of their chase, even managing to reduce the asking rate, until the game shifted in the 26th over.
Afghanistan’s veteran spinner Mohammad Nabi made a subtle but clever field change, moving his deep square leg fielder to second slip, and coaxed Najmul into attempting a sweep against the turn.
The left-hander fell for the trap, top-edging his shot, which was caught by Shahidi at short fine leg after a brief juggling act.
This wicket opened the floodgates, and Ghazanfar returned to take charge.
In the 31st over, Ghazanfar made an immediate impact, removing Mehidy to start his devastating spell.
He followed up with a triple-wicket over that left Bangladesh reeling.
First, he had Mushfiqur Rahim stumped off a carrom ball, then trapped Rishad Hossain leg before, and finally cleaned up Taskin Ahmed with another carrom ball, completing his five-wicket haul as Bangladesh slumped to 138 for 8.
In between, Rashid Khan also contributed to the collapse, deceiving Mahmudullah with a well-disguised googly before getting Towhid Hridoy to miss a similar delivery while attempting a wild slog sweep.
In the very next over, the 35th, Ghazanfar sealed his six-wicket haul with yet another carrom ball, this time sending Shoriful Islam back to the pavilion, and handing Afghanistan a remarkable 92-run victory.
Earlier, Bangladesh had been in a strong position at the halfway stage thanks to a superb bowling effort.
Taskin Ahmed (4 for 53) and Mustafizur Rahman (4 for 58) tore through Afghanistan’s top order, leaving them in dire straits at 71 for 5 after 20 overs.
But Afghanistan’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Mohammad Nabi steadied the ship with a crucial 104-run partnership for the sixth wicket, taking the score past 175 before Mustafizur removed Shahidi for 52 off 92 balls.
Nabi continued to fight, scoring a valuable 84 off 79 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes, before becoming Taskin’s third victim.
Nangeyalia Kharote’s unbeaten 27 helped Afghanistan push their total to 235, a total that proved more than enough for a comfortable 92-run victory and a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
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