In the 3rd ODI at Sharjah cricket stadium Afghanistan chased down Bangladesh’s total of 244/8 in 48.2 overs, securing a 5-wicket victory and winning the series 2-1. This defeat remarks the second consecutive series lost against Aghan with the same result in the previous encounter in 2023 at Chattogram, Bangladesh.
In the absence of Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mehedy Hasan Miraz led the Bangladesh team in the 3rd ODI and opted to bat first and faced early trouble by losing two-opener Tanzid Tamim (19) and Soumya Sarker (24) in the first ten overs and Zakir Hasan can’t help the team with bat. However, experienced campaigner Mahmudullah Riyad anchored the innings with 98 from 98, and captain Mehedy Hasan Miraz padded support with 66 off 119. They can put more totals on the card but the Afgan bowlers tightened their bowling on the death over and Bangladesh scored 244/8 in their allocated 50 overs. Azmatullah Omarzai took 4 and Rashid Khan took 2 wickets.
In reply, Afghanistan’s opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz (101 off 120) scored his 8th ODI hundred, 3rd against Bangladesh including 5 fours and 7 sixes, making an easy path to win the match and securing the series. Gurbaz could settle down on wicket but the other three top-order batters couldn’t make their innings big, which doesn’t make any difference because Azmatullah Omarzai anchored a good innings. He scored 70 from 77 balls and Mohammad Nabi guided him with 34 off 27.
Azmatullah Omarzai’s all-around performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
