Afghanistan Take Over Bangladesh in a Thrilling ODI match
In a highly anticipated One-Day International (ODI) match held in Sharjah, Afghanistan secured a commanding victory over Bangladesh by 92 runs. The match which took place on November 6, 2024 showcased the exceptional talent and resilience of the Afghan cricket team.
Afghanistan’s Innings:
Opting to bat first Afghanistan faced early challenges as they lost four wickets for just 35 runs. However a crucial partnership between captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and the experienced Mohammad Nabi steadied the innings. Shahidi scored a composed 52 while Nabi aggressive 84 runs off 74 balls provided the much-needed momentum. Their efforts helped Afghanistan post a competitive total of 235 runs in 49.4 overs.
Bangladesh bowlers particularly Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman were impressive each claiming four wickets and keeping the Afghan batsmen under pressure throughout the innings.
Bangladesh’s Chase:
Bangladesh began their chase confidently with opener Soumya Sarkar scoring 33 runs. Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored with 47 and Mehidy Hasan Miraz contributed 28 runs. At one point, Bangladesh seemed well-placed at 132 for 3 but the match took a dramatic turn.
Afghanistan’s young spinner Allah Ghazanfar delivered a record-breaking performance taking 6 wickets for just 26 runs. His remarkable spell dismantled Bangladesh’s middle and lower order leading to their collapse from a strong position to being all out for 143 runs.
Key Moments:
The partnership between Shahidi and Nabi was pivotal in setting a challenging target for Bangladesh.
Ghazanfar exceptional bowling performance which included the crucial wickets of Mehidy Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim, turned the match in Afghanistan favor.
Bangladesh inability to build on their strong start and the subsequent collapse highlighted the effectiveness of Afghanistan spin attack.
This victory underscores Afghanistan growing prowess in international cricket particularly their strength in spin bowling. The team’s ability to recover from early setbacks and deliver under pressure was commendable. For Bangladesh the match was a reminder of the challenges they face in maintaining consistency and handling quality spin bowling.
Afghanistan win in this ODI not only boosts their confidence but also sets the stage for an exciting series ahead.