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Rashid, Omarzai heroics overpower Tanzim's three-fer as AFG flatten Bangladesh in 1st ODI

Aakash Saini

Rashid Khan and others celebrating a wicket [Source: @ACBofficials/x]Rashid Khan and others celebrating a wicket [Source: @ACBofficials/x]

Afghanistan blanked Bangladesh by five wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the ODI series in Abu Dhabi. Rashid Khan picked up three wickets in the game, before Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rahmat Shah struck match-winning half-centuries in the run-chase.

Here, we take a look at the highlights of the first ODI of the three-match series between Afghanistan and Bangladesh, as it panned out at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, October 8.

Hridoy, Miraz 50s take Bangladesh to 221 after Omarzai’s 3-fer

Azmatullah Omarzai struck early for Afghanistan with the big wickets of Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan and number three Najmul Hossain Shanto. Saif Hassan looked good during his 37-ball knock of 26, but he was dismissed by Nangeyalia Kharote (1-32) at the time Bangladesh reached a troublesome 53-3 in 11 overs.

Half-centurions Towhid Hridoy (56 off 85) and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz (60 off 87) put together a 101-run partnership for the fourth wicket to take Bangladesh past the 150-run mark. 

Up against the ante, senior spinner Rashid Khan struck back for Afghanistan with three quick wickets to claim figures of 3-38. Omarzai (3-40) also picked up his third later in the innings while AM Ghazanfar got two tailenders as Bangladesh folded up for 221 in 48.5 overs.

50s for Gurbaz and Rahmat Shah does it for Afghanistan

Ibrahim Zadran belted four boundaries in his 25-ball 23 and shared a 52-run partnership with opening partner Rahmanullah Gurbaz before falling to Tanvir Islam. Gurbaz faced 76 deliveries in the innings, and struck just one boundary and one six to make 50 runs after the failure of number three Sediqullah Atal. Rahmat Shah also compiled a half-century, albeit at number four, as he and Gurbaz forged together a 78-run partnership for the third wicket.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib (3-31) tilted the tide back in Bangladesh's favour to a certain extent with three big wickets, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz knocked over Rahmanullah Gurbaz, as Afghanistan reached a panicky 195-5 in 43 overs. 

As it turned out, captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (33* off 46) and Mohammad Nabi (11* off 8) anchored Afghanistan's run-chase without further hiccups in 47.1 overs with five wickets in hand. Azmatullah Omarzai also made a quick 40 off 44 to cap a remarkable all-round performance for himself.