Afghanistan managed to defeat Bangladesh by 17 runs and take a 1-0 lead in the ODI series by sneaking in a strong bowling performance in between three rain delays. The game was reduced to 43 overs per side in Chattogram after play had been stopped for a total of three hours and fifteen minutes.
Even nevertheless, it was not possible. The visitors were proclaimed the winners after the players were pulled off the field at 9.33 p.m. with 83 for 2 in 21.4 overs, 17 runs more than the DLS par score at that point in the innings.
The best bowler for Afghanistan was Fazalhaq Farooqi, who continued the form he displayed during the ODI series here last year by grabbing 3 for 24. Bangladesh was placed under strain by their spin trio of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who together claimed five wickets for 69 runs in 24 overs.
With 24 extras on three lost receptions, they also provided relief, but the home team was unable to profit from it. There was hardly any assistance from the other end, but Towhid Hridoy managed to maintain his composure and score his third ODI fifty. As Bangladesh fell from a theoretically solid 103 for 3 to 169 for 9 in 43 overs, they committed several soft dismissals.
The Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium’s grounds crew is to be commended for their painstaking work in peeling and unpeeling the big tarps that covered the majority of the 30-yard circle to shield it from the rain. Although there was virtually little overhead cover at the stadium, the almost full audience struck up a lively atmosphere for the whole of the match. To escape the rain that was pouring in from the south, they had to scramble to the staircases.
But they received no assistance from the players they went to visit. only a little flattery to trick.
Due to the fact that, until Tamim Iqbal was bowled in the seventh over, Bangladesh was actually moving along nicely in the first 20 overs. Five boundaries, including a six, were hit by Litton Das and Najmul Hossain Shanto, who committed to score plenty of runs. However, Bangladesh started to slack off when they were within six balls of one another – Litton timing a pull straight to deep square leg and Shanto top-edging a sweep to short fine leg.
Afghanistan benefited while Shakib Al Hasan concentrated on surviving a few overs. A slowdown was necessitated because of the first rain break, but after 15.1 overs of play, the fourth wicket added just 37 runs in 65 balls, which ultimately cost Bangladesh.
Before being caught at cover by Nabi, Shakib labored to a score of 15 from 37 balls, his slowest ODI innings in eight years (min 30 balls). Mushfiqur Rahim was removed by Rashid for the eighth time in professional cricket when a half-tracker went through his legs, glanced off his inner thigh, and struck his stumps.
Afif Hossain was also bowled by Afghanistan’s top legspinner, with a little assistance from DRS, and when Farooqi returned to dismiss Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Bangladesh’s batting collapsed.
Before Towhid became Farooqi’s third wicket of the day, Taskin fell victim to an LBW call from Mujeeb following another rain delay. A few people laughed when Mustafizur Rahman chose to bat dead in what turned out to be the final over of the game, but mostly it served to highlight Bangladesh’s laborious batting effort, particularly in the final 20 overs when they were able to produce just three runs per over.
It wasn’t that Afghanistan didn’t present opportunities for Bangladesh. Mujeeb fumbled a Shanto return catch on the number 10. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the wicketkeeper, dropped Hridoy when he was 16 off the same bowler, and Rashid, the wicketkeeper, dropped Hasan Mahmud in the final over, albeit that last one didn’t really matter much.
Afghanistan approached their 164-run following with caution as well. Only four boundaries were hit by the opening pair of Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran as they contributed 54 runs in 15.3 overs before Gurbaz was caught at short midwicket by Shanto. He only hit one four in 22 out of 45 balls.
Rahmat Shah was afterwards caught by Taskin at the slip, where Litton made a good low catch. Ibrahim was ultimately unbeaten on 41 from 58 balls with five fours. When the third rain delay arrived, the captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, was with him and was still unblemished after nine balls.