Brief Scoreboard
1st Match Played at Sariah, UAE on 6 November 2024
Afghanistan 235 all out in 49.4 Overs (Mohammad Nabi 84, Hashmatullah Shahidi 52, Nangelia Kharote 27*, Gulbadan Naib 22, Sadequllah Atal 21, Taskin Ahmed 4/53, Mustafizur Rahman 4/54)
Bangladesh 143 all out in 34.3 Overs (Nazmul Hossein Shanto 47, Soumya Sarkar 33, Mehidy Hasan Miraj 28, AM Ghazanfar 6/26, Rashid Khan 2/20)
Bangladesh lost by 92 Runs
Player of the match: AM Ghazanfar
From 120/2 Bangladesh collapsed to 143 all out. Afghanistan inflicted a huge and humiliating 92 runs defeat on Bangladesh in the historic 300th international match played at Sharjah Cricket stadium. The miserable state of Bangladesh continues. It is now a question whether Bangladesh can avoid yet another series whitewash.
Batting first after winning the toss on a sluggish wicket Afghanistan withstanding brilliant Bangladesh pace attack of Taskin (4/53) and Mustafizur (4/54) scored 235 all out. At Innings break it appeared a chaseable score. Bangladesh also appeared cruising towards the target reaching 120/2. But once captain Nazmul Shanto fell to Mohammad Nabi scoring 47 Bangladesh witnessed dramatic collapse crumbling to 143 all out. Rookie Afghan off spinner AM Ghazanfar taking 6/26 caused the major damage. 7 of the 11 Bangladeshi batsmen even could not even reach double figure. There cannot be any excuse for such a poor batting performance. The team looked panicked and traumatized. The great work of Bangladesh bowling was completely undone. Bangladesh lost by huge 92 runs.
The wicket had something for everyone. Exploiting the lateral movement and a bit uneven bounce Mustahfiz and Taskin early inroads into Afghan batting reducing them to 5/71 by the 20th Over. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi (52) pairing with ever reliable Mohammad Nabi (84) recovered Afghans with a 104 runs 6th wicket partnership. Afghans reached 235 all out. Taskin (4/53) and Mustafizur (4/54) bowled brilliantly. Bangladesh perhaps missed a left arm spinner as Nasum Ahmed the only left arm spinner of the squad could not reach UAE for visa issue. We must appreciate the team achievement of Afghans in recovering from tight situation.
However, an innings break analyst considered the target as chaseable. That notion got stronger as despite losing Tanzid Tamim early Bangladesh moved to 120/2 riding on good batting of Soumya (33), Shanto (47) and Mehidy Miraj (28) .But as soon as Shanto was removed by Nabi at 120 panic set in .Young Ghazanfar ran cat among the mouse in the Bangladesh camp. Bangladesh collapsed to 143 all out losing 8 wickets for 23 runs. Bangladesh lost huge by 92 runs. In a two-team game there is one team that wins and the other loses. But there are ways of defeat. How can Bangladesh explain the manner of their abject surrender. The way spineless Bangladesh lost raises concern of yet another comprehensive series whitewash.
Taking nothing away from brilliant Afghans. They outplayed Bangladesh and deserved the win. No praise is enough for the war-ravaged Afghanistan playing at their home away from home.
BDST: 1003 HRS, NOV 07, 2024
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