Bangladesh were bowled out for 221 in a dramatic opening ODI of the three-match series against Afghanistan at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
Electing to bat first, the Tigers looked set for a competitive total but lost their last six wickets for just 46 runs, bringing tension back into the match.
Earlier, the Tigers’ innings began shakily as opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim fell in the fourth over, caught behind off Azmatullah Omarzai for 10. Former captain Najmul Hossain Shanto could not settle either, becoming Omarzai’s second victim for just 2 runs.
ODI debutant Saif Hassan offered some hope with a patient 26 off 37 balls, striking five boundaries, but he was caught at long off by Rashid Khan off Nangeyalia Kharote — his dismissal triggering the middle-order collapse that Bangladesh had hoped to avoid.
The innings was steadied by a crucial 101-run partnership between Towhid Hridoy and captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Hridoy contributed 56 off 85 balls before being run out due to a mix-up, marking his third consecutive ODI fifty.
Miraz, the top scorer, made 60 off 87 balls before being trapped LBW by Rashid Khan, who claimed his 200th ODI wicket in the process.
The lower middle-order could not hold firm. Jaker Ali (10 off 16) and Nurul Hasan Sohan (7 off 14) fell to Rashid’s precision in 41st and 45th over respectively.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib (17 off 23) hit a six in the death overs. Taskin Ahmed added a boundary (4* off 1), Hasan Mahmud 5 off 9, and Tanvir Islam 11 off 8, including a four and a six, taking the score to 221 before Bangladesh were bowled out with seven balls to spare.
Rashid Khan was the pick of the Afghan bowlers, finishing with 3 for 38, while Azmatullah Omarzai claimed 3 for 40. AM Ghazanfar and Nangeyalia Kharote shared the remaining wickets with two and one respectively.
As of filing this report, Afghanistan need 222 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
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