Sports Desk : dhakamirror.com
Afghanistan clinched the ODI series with a crushing 81-run win over Bangladesh in the second of the three-match series and take an unassailable 2-0 lead at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Bangladesh were folded for 109 runs in 28.3 overs—their lowest against the Afghans in an ODI and second lowest for any team in Abu Dhabi—while chasing 190 after an extraordinary collapse of five wickets for just 10 runs.
This was Bangladesh’s fourth consecutive loss in an ODI bilateral series overall while third consecutive against Afghanistan.
Rashid Khan grabbed his sixth five-wicket haul in ODIs as he registered a figure of 5-17, while Azmatullah Omarzai took three for 17.
Omarzai struck the early blows as Tanzid Hasan and Saif Hassan were both undone by short balls in the first and seventh overs of the innings, respectively.
Saif made 22 off 23 and had just struck a four and a six in the previous two deliveries. In between them, Najmul Hossain Shanto’s run-out further worsened the situation for the Tigers.
Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz became Omarzai’s third scalp when he was trapped lbw as Afghanistan took control of the match.
Towhid Hridoy, who top-scored with 24, was bowled by Rashid Khan before adding 29 runs with Jaker Ali, the highest partnership of the innings.
Jaker and Nurul then tried to rebuild a bit before the latter was bowled by Rashid when Bangladesh’s score was 99. Soon they became 100-9 as Rashid started a mayhem.
He wrapped up the innings when Rishad Hossain was stumped.
Earlier, Ibrahim Zadran guided Afghanistan to a moderate total of 190 with his grinding knock of 95 off 140, where he hit three fours and a six.
He guarded one end while Afghanistan struggled to build big partnerships. They were 118-5 as Rahmat Shah was retired hurt.
Ibrahim then added 39, 36, and 31 runs with Mohammad Nabi, Nangeyalia Kharote, and AM Ghazanfar to give Afghanistan a chance. Rahmat came to bat later but couldn’t continue before Ibarhim missed out on his hundred.
Mehidy took three for 42, while Tanzim Hasan and Rishad took two wickets each. But a dismal batting performance spoilt the bowling efforts.
