Even after restricting Afghanistan to 190 runs, Bangladesh suffered a massive defeat due to an appalling batting performance, confirming their series loss.
After losing the toss and coming out to bat, Mehedi Hasan Miraz said, “Chasing 240-250 here would have been possible. Afghanistan managed only 190. No team has scored so little in the first innings on this ground. Unbelievably, our team found a way to lose by a huge margin chasing the lowest total!”
A combination of poor shots, shaky technique, inexplicable run-outs, and lack of match awareness resulted in a humiliating batting collapse. Bangladesh couldn’t even challenge to level the series. Afghanistan secured the series with an 81-run win in the second ODI, with one match still remaining.
What was once Bangladesh’s strongest format has now become a consistent source of disappointment. Out of the last 12 ODIs, they have lost 10. The bitterness of series defeat came for the fourth consecutive series.
This marks Bangladesh’s third consecutive ODI series loss against Afghanistan.
In Abu Dhabi, Ibrahim Zadran starred for Afghanistan, scoring half of his team’s total with 95 runs off 140 balls, hitting three fours and a six. His innings set the platform for Afghanistan’s bowlers to dominate, as Bangladesh were bowled out for just 109 in 28.3 overs.
This was Bangladesh’s lowest innings and quickest all-out against Afghanistan in ODIs. Rashid Khan, who took three wickets in the first match, once again tore through Bangladesh’s batting lineup, claiming three wickets in a seven-over spell. Azmatullah Omarzai also took three wickets with the new ball.
Bangladesh’s batting woes started from the first over against Omarzai. Tanzid was dismissed for a duck, and Nazmul Hossain Shanto followed soon after with a suicidal two-run attempt. Saif Hasan tried to hold the innings together with some good shots but fell to Omarzai after hitting a four and six.
Tawhid Hridoy and Miraz, expected to anchor the innings like in the previous match, failed. Hridoy played the worst shot of the match, attempting a slog against Rashid Khan when only 3.5 runs per over were required, and was bowled for 24 off 34 balls. Soon after, Nurul Hasan Sohan met the same fate, bowled trying to slog against Rashid for 18 runs.
Rashid then struck back by dismissing Tanzim Hasan and Rishad Hossain in consecutive deliveries, almost completing a hat-trick. Although Rishad survived on review, Bangladesh’s hopes were over soon after as Zaker Ari was caught. Mohammad Nabi only bowled four overs, but the damage was done.
Ibrahim Zadran held Afghanistan together, scoring 95 in a gritty innings. Nabi supported with 22 runs, while Nangalia Kharote added 13 before a superb throw from Tanzid ran him out. Miraz dismissed Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, and Rishad Hossain prevented Azmatullah Omarzai from scoring runs.
Miraz narrowly denied Zadran a century, as he was caught hitting a six off Miraz’s off-spin. Later, Ghazanfar contributed 22 runs off 18 balls in a valuable cameo. Injured Rehmat came in as the last batsman but had to leave after facing just one ball.
Bangladesh might have reconsidered sending him to bat if they had known the collapse that awaited.
The final match of the series is scheduled for Tuesday.
Brief Scores
- Afghanistan: 190 in 44.5 overs (Gurbaz 11, Ibrahim 95, Atal 8, Rehmat 9 retired hurt, Shahidi 4, Omarzai 0, Nabi 22, Kharote 13, Rashid 1, Gazanfar 22, Bashir 0*; Tanzim 7-0-35-2, Mustafiz 8-0-38-0, Miraz 10-1-42-3, Tanvir 10-0-35-1, Rishad 9.5-0-37-2)
- Bangladesh: 109 in 28.3 overs (Tanzid 0, Saif 22, Shanto 7, Hridoy 24, Miraz 4, Zaker 18, Sohan 15, Tanzim 0, Rishad 5, Tanvir 0, Mustafiz 5*; Omarzai 7-1-27-3, Bashir 2-0-22-0, Gazanfar 4-0-21-0, Rashid 8.3-2-17-5, Kharote 7-1-22-1)
Result: Afghanistan won by 81 runs.
Series: Afghanistan leads 2-0 in the three-match series.
Player of the Match: Ibrahim Zadran
