AFGHANISTAN VS BANGLADESH IN UAE
Rashid Khan picked a fifer © Getty
Ibrahim Zadran’s 95 on a turning track and Rashid Khan’s five-wicket haul powered Afghanistan to an 81-run win over Bangladesh in the second ODI in Abu Dhabi, giving them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Opting to bat, Afghanistan’s innings was built around Zadran’s patient 140-ball knock, which included only 3 fours and a six. His opening partner, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, fell to a miscued pull while Sediqullah Atal chipped to long-on. Zadran added stability through the middle, surviving testing spells from Mehidy Hasan Miraz (3 for 42) and Tanzim Hasan Sakib (2 for 35), while Rahmat Shah retired hurt for 9 with a calf issue.
Mohammad Nabi’s 22 off 30 and a late cameo from Allah Ghazanfar (22 off 18) added some spark but Afghanistan were bowled out for 190 in 44.5 overs on a very slow surface.
The chase for Bangladesh, though, unravelled early. Azmatullah Omarzai struck in a wicket-maiden opening over to remove Tanzid Hasan for a duck before Najmul Hossain Shanto was run out coming back for a risky second. Saif Hassan counter-punched with four and six in an over before top-edging Azmatullah to third man for 22. The seamer returned to trap Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan lbw for 4, leaving the reply at 50 for 4 and exposing the middle order.
Rashid Khan then took charge. He bowled Towhid Hridoy for 24, out-foxed Nurul Hasan with a fuller googly, pinned Tanzim Hasan lbw next ball and later trapped Tanvir Islam in front before finishing the job by stumping Rishad Hossain for his fifth. Jaker Ali’s 18 and Nurul’s 15 were the only periods of resistance as Bangladesh were dismissed for 109 in 28.3 overs.
Brief scores: Afghanistan 190 in 44.5 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 95; Mohammad Nabi 22; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 3-42) beat Bangladesh 109 in 28.3 overs (Towhid Hridoy 24; Rashid Khan 5/22, Azmatullah Omarzai 3/27) by 81 runs.
© Cricbuzz
