Afghanistan raze host Bangladesh to clinch ODI series
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18 hrs ago![Nahid Rana [R], Litton Das [M], Rishad Hossain, Cricfrenzy](https://cricfrenzy.com/public/storage/images/2-2025/b63Kb1P37XIa8965QN348as6.jpg)
Afghanistan took the three-match ODI series in a dominating way as the visitors clinched the second match against Bangladesh by 142 runs at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram. Afghans lead the series 2-0.
It is Afghanistan's third highest victory in ODIs in terms of margin.
Centuries from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran fired Afghanistan to set 332 runs target for the Tigers.
Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mujeeb-ur-Rahman responded by making the new ball talk and destroying the top order on the first powerplay.
Both bowlers were economical in their bowling, which put Bangladesh firmly on the back foot as Farooqi took the wickets of stand-in captain Litton Das (13) and Mohammad Naim (9), while Mujeeb bowled in form Najmul Hossain Shanto for 1.
Rashid khan put Towhid Hridoy out of his misery after he scored a struggled 16 off 34. Mohammad Nabi got the better of Shakib al Hasan (25) to almost kill the game.
However, Mushfiqur Rahim persevered and displayed great tenacity. He continued running out of teammates from the other end, and the hosts were far behind the required run-rate.
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PHOTO: Mushfiqur Rahim in action, Cricfrenzy
In the end, Farooqi outwitted Mushfiqur to lead his team to a resounding victory. Mushfiq scored fighting 69 runs off 85 balls.
Earlier, a late resurgence of the Tigers did not help much as Afghanistan scored 331-9 in the accumulated 50 overs.
Swashbuckling Gurbaz smashed a 125-ball 145 which featured 13 fours and eight sixes to put a mammoth 256-run stand with Ibrahim.
Ibrahim registered a century and departed after playing a 119-ball 100 with nine fours and a solitary six.
The duo recorded the fourth-highest partnership by any wicket in ODIs against Bangladesh any side and smashed the second-highest opening stand against the Tigers.
Shakib al Hasan gave Bangladesh the breakthrough in the 37th over of the contest by trapping Gurbaz into LBW. Then they picked up two more quick wickets to slow down the Afghans.
A few other quick wickets followed as Ebadot Hossain dismissed Rahmat Shah (two) next over, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz removed Hashmatullah Shahidi (two) and Najibullah Zadran (10).
Zadran brought his fourth ODI hundred off 118 balls but fell in the next delivery to Mustafizur Rahman.
Mohammad Nabi hit an unbeaten 25 to ensure Afghanistan did not lose their way completely.
Shakib, Mustafizur Rahman, Miraz, and Hasan Mahmud picked up two wickets each, while Ebadot, who limped off the field with an injury scare, scalped one.
The hosts appeared demoralised by this week's rollercoaster saga involving regular captain Tamim Iqbal, who shocked his teammates by announcing his immediate retirement on Thursday only to rescind his resignation a day later.
