Riding on a big batting effort followed by an all-round bowling show, Afghanistan took an unassailable 2-0 series lead over Bangladesh, thus registering their first ever ODI series win over them in the format. Afghanistan’s massive 142-run margin in the second ODI in Chattogram was their third biggest victory margin in the format in terms of runs.
The platform for the impressive win was set up pretty early in the game, when Afghanistan racked up an impressive total of 331/9, their third-highest ODI total, after being put in to bat. Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (145 off 125) and Ibrahim Zadran (100 off 119) raised contrasting hundreds but formed two halves of a massive 256-run opening stand, the highest ever for Afghanistan. The effort set them up for a score in excess of 350 but Bangladesh made a strong comeback in the closing overs to keep their target down to only 332, which admittedly looked achievable at the halfway mark but one that Afghanistan’s new-ball bowlers put paid to pretty early in the chase.
For the visitors, it all started with a good powerplay upfront which saw the total an effortless 67 runs in the first 10 overs. Both batters scored more freely thereafter, with Gurbaz bringing up his 48-ball fifty by launching Shakib Al Hasan for a six over deep square leg. He reached his century, his third in ODIs, off 100 balls as Bangladesh looked out of clues to dislodge the opening stand.
It took a flat darter from Shakib to dismiss Gurbaz and put an end to the mammoth stand but not before the batter had smashed eight sixes and raised his highest ODI score. This, though, proved to the point from whereon Bangladesh made a strong return. Only 75 runs came in the last 14 overs as the bowlers kept chipping in with wickets. After Gurbaz fell, Ebadot Hossain followed up with the wicket Rahmat Shah in the next over and Mehidy Hasan then bowled Hashmatullah Shahidi in the over after. Regular wickets kept Afghanistan from getting away in the death overs even as Zadran brought up his fourth ODI hundred off 118 balls.
Zadran fell right after his milestone to Mustafzur Rahman who also picked up Azmatullah Omarzai later in the innings. Mohammad Nabi’s cameo of 25* off 15 took Afghanistan in excess of 330, a total that proved more than enough on the night.
Out to defend what felt a par target, Afghanistan got their lines and lengths right from the word go. Litton Das kicked off the chase with a couple of boundaries, even overturned an on-field lbw call but eventually fell to a short ball from Fazalhaq Farooqi. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, having kept things tight at the other end, then bowled Najmul Hossain Shanto before Farooqi added the wicket of Mohammad Naim, wrapping up a delightful powerplay for the visitors.
That’s when Rashid Khan joined the party, getting rid of Towhid Hridoy in his first over and then Afif Hossain in his next. Sandwiched between those two wickets was Mohammad Nabi’s lbw of Shakib, a crucial moment in the game.
The target looked way off from 72/6 but an 87-run stand between Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy kept Afghanistan waiting. Mujeeb returned to pick Mehidy and break that stand, and added the wicket of Hasan Mahmud as Bangladesh went on to be bowled out for 189 inside 44 overs. Mujeeb and Fazalhaq finished with six wickets between them as Afghanistan secured a memorable win.
Brief Scores:
Afghanistan 331/9 in 50 overs (Gurbaz 145, Zadran 100; Shakib 2-50) beat Bangladesh 189 all out in 43.2 overs (Mushfiqur 69; Farooqi 3-22, Mujeeb 3-40) by 142 runs