Rashid fifer sinks Bangladesh as Afghanistan clinch ODI series

Afghanistan sealed the three-match ODI series with a game to spare after Rashid Khan’s five-wicket haul inspired an emphatic 81-run victory over Bangladesh in the second ODI in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Defending a modest 190, Rashid returned 5-17 in 8.3 overs, ripping through Bangladesh’s middle and lower order after Azmatullah Omarzai’s early strikes with the new ball. The Tigers were bundled out for 109 in 28.3 overs, continuing a worrying trend of batting failures in the format.

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Towhid Hridoy top-scored with 24 off 34 balls, while Saif Hassan’s brisk 22 offered early promise before yet another familiar collapse saw Bangladesh lose their way completely.

Earlier, Afghanistan too endured batting struggles on a slow surface before opener Ibrahim Zadran crafted a resilient 95 off 140 balls to give his side something to defend.

Zadran’s effort was the backbone of the innings as wickets kept tumbling around him. Mohammad Nabi (22 off 30) and AM Ghazanfar (22 off 18) provided brief support, but once Zadran was dismissed in the 44th over, Afghanistan lost their final two wickets for just two runs, bowled out in 44.5 overs.

Bangladesh’s bowlers had earlier done well to restrict the Afghans. Skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz led from the front with 3-42, while Tanzim Hasan Sakib (2 for 35) and Rishad Hossain (2 for 37) chipped in with key breakthroughs.

Having bowled out Afghanistan for 190, the Tigers looked primed to level the series but their batting once again came apart under the slightest pressure.

Bangladesh’s chase began on the worst possible note as Omarzai struck in the first over, removing opener Tanzid Tamim for a duck. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto’s poor run continued as he ran himself out for seven, while Saif’s promising 23-ball 22 was cut short by Omarzai in the seventh over.

At 50-4 inside 11 overs, following Miraz’s lbw dismissal to Omarzai, the writing was already on the wall. Hridoy tried to rebuild but once again lacked the intent or authority to change the game’s tempo. His attempted slog across the line to a full Rashid delivery only ended with his stumps uprooted — a dismissal symbolic of Bangladesh’s mounting technical and mental lapses against quality spin.

From there, Rashid took charge, running through the tail with trademark guile and pace variations. The Afghan talisman fifer crushed Bangladesh who folded for 109.

If the first ODI’s 221 felt underwhelming, this chase was worse. Poor shot selection, indecisive running, and lack of partnerships once again left Bangladesh with no answers.

Despite another disciplined effort from the bowlers, the Tigers’ batting fragility remains glaring — a persistent concern  that now threatens to define their ODI fortunes heading into every contest.

The third and final ODI will be played on Tuesday.

Afghanistan all out for 190 despite Zadran’s 95

Opener Ibrahim Zadran fought a lone battle with a gritty 95 but Afghanistan folded for 190 in 44.5 overs against Bangladesh in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

The right-hander anchored the innings superbly, facing 140 deliveries and holding one end together even as wickets kept tumbling around him. His dismissal in the 44th over finally opened the floodgates, with the remaining two batters adding two runs to the total.

Zadran found brief support from Mohammad Nabi, who made a 30-ball 22, while AM Ghazanfar contributed 22 off 18 in a late flurry. Nageyalia Kahrote added 13 runs after Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s run-a-ball 11 as no other Afghan batter managed to reach double figures, with Bangladesh’s bowlers kept chipping away at regular intervals.

Pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib set the tone early, removing opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the fifth over before striking again to dismiss Nabi, leaving Afghanistan reeling at 126 for five after the end of the 30th over. Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam accounted for Sediqullah Atal (8), while leg-spinner Rishad Hossain found success with two wickets, including in-form Azmatullah Omarzai for a duck.

Skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 3-42 with his tidy off-spin, while Tanzim (2-35) and Rishad (2-37) provided excellent support.

Earlier, Afghanistan, who won the toss and opted to bat, were aiming to seal the series after taking a 1-0 lead. Bangladesh made two changes, bringing in Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad in place of Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud.

Tanzim strikes twice as Afghanistan lose their side

Pacer Taznim Sakib scalped his second wicket to have Afghanistan five down for 126 runs after the 30th over in the second ODI of the three-match series between the sides in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Tanzim dismissed Mohammad Nabi (22 runs 30 balls) at the beginning of the 30th over. A well-set Ibrahim Zadran was, however, unbeaten on 68 runs off 97 deliveries at the other end and had Nangeyalia Kharote join him in the middle. 

Tanzim took his first wicket in the fifth over when opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz miscued a big hit over the leg side. The right-hander, who scored a run-a-ball 11, was livid with himself for getting caught at deep square leg. 

Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam then got in on the act as he lured Sediqullah Atal (eight off 13 balls) into a big shot which he could not time properly. The left-handed batter came down the wicket and looked to tonk it over but found Tanzim stationed at long-on. Afghanistan managed to finish the Powerplay without further damage, ending the first 10 overs at 43-2. 

Rahmat Shah, after scoring nine runs off 11 balls, was retired hurt. This brought skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (four) to the middle but the left-hander’s stay lasted for 12 balls as Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz bowled a ripping arm-ball to castle him in the 18th over. In the following over, leg-spinner Rishad Hossain found the outside edge of Azmatullah Omarzai (0) to leave Afghanistan four down for 79.  A 39-run stand between Zadran and Nabi followed before the latter gave an easy catch to cover.

Mustafizur, Rishad in as Afghanistan send Bangladesh in to field

Afghanistan have won the toss and opted to bat first in the second ODI against Bangladesh at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday. 

The Afghans are 1-0 up in the three-match series, and a win here would help them to a series victory.

Bangladesh have made two changes, with Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad Hossain replacing Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud.   

It looks like a bat-first wicket as both captains said they would have liked to bat first. 

“The wicket looks good. The wicket may help spinners in the second half. We have the same team,” Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi said. 

“We would have batted first as well. We didn’t batted well in the last game. On this wicket, 240-250 is chaseable as there could be some dew in the second half,” Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said. 

TEAMS

Afghanistan: 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Sediqullah Atal, 4 Rahmat Shah, 5 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 6 Azmatullah Omarzai, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 AM Ghazanfar, 10 Nangeyalia Kharote, 11 Bashir Ahmad

Bangladesh: 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Saif Hassan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), 6 Jaker Ali, 7 Nurul Hasan (wk), 8 Tanzim Hasan Sakib, 9 Rishad Hossain, 10 Tanvir Islam, 11 Mustafizur Rahman