Afghanistan put in a professional performance in all facets of the game to outplay Bangladesh by 81 runs and seal the series 2-0 with a game to spare. Afghanistan came out all guns blazing and despite underperforming with the bat they roared with the ball to win the game by a comfortable margin. Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Afghanistan were bowled out for 190 in 44.5 overs with Ibrahim Zadran being the standout scoring 95 off 140 balls. The rest of the batting failed with Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz picking up 3 wickets.
In the second innings, Afghanistan skittled Bangladesh out for 109 in 28.3 overs with Rashid Khan leading the way with 5/17 in 8.3 overs and was ably supported by Azmatullah Omarzai who finished with 3/27 in 7 overs. No one really got going for Bangladesh as there were couple of 20s from Saif Hassan and Towhid Hridoy. But it was a disappointing batting display as Bangladesh went down tamely to lose the series with a game to spare.
Ibrahim Zadran’s 95 highlights Afghanistan’s 190 in 44.5 overs.Â
Winning the toss and deciding to bat first. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran came out to bat for Afghanistan while Tanzim Hasan Sakib had ball in hand for Bangladesh. Sakib bowled a decent first over. Mustafizur Rahman took the new ball from the other end. He too bowled a quiet first over. Sakib continued as Gurbaz broke the shackles by launching the ball down the ground over wide long-on for the maximum. Rahman continued and bowled another probing over.
Gurbaz took the attack to Sakib by heaving it away towards midwicket region for a boundary. Sakib hit back and got rid of Gurbaz for 11 off 11 balls with a boundary and maximum to his name. Sakib bowled a short ball on the stumps, Gurbaz looked to take it on but was hurried by the pace. He failed to control the stroke and ended up hitting it straight down the throat of Jaker Ali at deep backward square leg who took the simple catch. Sediqullah Atal came out to bat next.
Rahman continued as Atal picked the length early and pulled it away to deep midwicket fence for a boundary. Sakib continued and bowled a quiet over. Spin was introduced inside the powerplay as captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz came into the attack. Ibrahim got into the act as he stepped down the track and launched it over long-on for the maximum. Tanvir Islam came into the attack next. He dismissed Atal for 8 off 13 balls with a boundary to his name.
Islam bowled fuller length tossed up outside off-stump. The ball turned into the batter off the surface. Atal premeditated and stepped down to go big down the ground. The bat turned in his hand as the ball went off the inside half of the blade and straight into the hands of Tanzim Hasan Sakib who took a simple catch at long-on. Rahmat Shah came to the crease and got off the mark with a boundary as he drove it between cover and point.
Mustafizur came back to bowl the final over of powerplay. He bowled a decent over as Afghanistan reached 43/2 in 10 overs at the end of the first powerplay. Tanvir continued and bowled another decent over. Miraz returned to the attack as the 50 came up for Bangladesh in 11.3 overs. Ibrahim broke the shackles by crunching the ball through the covers for a boundary. Ibrahim then got the outside edge off Tanvir and beat the keeper and away to the third man fence it went.
Miraz continued and bowled a quiet over again. Then we had Rahmat Shah pulling a hamstring and was down in pain. It looked cramps but it was more than that and had to be taken off the ground after Drinks Break. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi came out to bat next and got off the mark straightaway. Miraz continued and bowled another decent over. Drinks was taken now after 16 overs with the score at 70/2.
Rishad Hossain came into the attack next. He started with a miserly over. Miraz continued and dismissed the Afghan skipper Shahidi for 4 off 12 balls. From around the wicket, Mehidy bowled a flighted fuller delivery outside off-stump. Shahidi pressed forward on his front foot and threw his hands at it but the ball turned back sharply. He got a tickle of inside edge and crashed on the middle stump. Azmatullah Omarzai came out to bat next.
Rishad continued and got rid of Omarzai for a bronze duck. Rishad tossed the ball up fuller outside off-stump. The batter lunged forward and threw a gentle blade at it. The ball turned away and took the thick outside edge which flew to the right of first slip where Tanzim Hasan rushed and swallowed a great catch. Mohammad Nabi came out to bat next and got off the mark straightaway with a brace. Tanvir returned to the attack and bowled a miserly over. At the end of 20 overs, Afghanistan were in a spot of bother at 82/4.
Rishad continued and bowled a decent over. Tanvir too kept things under check. Meanwhile, Ibrahim reached his 8th ODI fifty in 70 balls as he had held the innings together. Islam continued and bowled a decent over. Rishad continued and bowled another quiet over as Afghanistan at the halfway stage of the innings were struggling at 99/4 in 25 overs.
The 100 came up for Afghanistan in 25.2 overs. Rahman bowled another quiet over. Nabi broke the shackles as he hit Rishad’s short ball by pulling over vacant deep midwicket for the maximum. Rishad thought he had Ibrahim LBW and reviewed it, but umpire’s call on hitting the wickets saved the batter. The review was retained. The Fizz continued to keep things tight. Tanvir returned and bowled a miserly over.
Tanzim Hasan Sakib returned to the attack and he got rid of Nabi for 22 off 30 balls with a maximum to his name. Sakib pushed a fuller delivery outside off-stump with change of pace variation. Nabi hung his bat out and played it uppishly and straight into the hands of a flying Miraz at covers. Nangeyalia Kharote came out to bat next. Ibrahim then hit Sakib by pressing forward and chipped it towards vacant long-on for a boundary as Afghanistan were 126/5 in 30 overs.
Rishad came back into the attack and bowled a decent over. Mehidy Hasan Miraz returned to the bowling crease and kept things under check. Tanzim Hasan Sakib was reintroduced into the attack and bowled another quiet over. The second drinks break was called with the score reading 136/5 in 33 overs. Miraz continued after the break and bowled another decent over. Sakib too kept things tight as runs came in singles at the moment. Miraz continued to keep the stranglehold going. Tanvir Islam bowled another quiet over.
Afghanistan next lost Kharote for 13 off 24 balls via a run out as Ibrahim wanted the second run and miscommunication meant that the batter was short of his ground at the bowler’s end. Rashid Khan came to the crease next and got off the mark straightaway. Ibrahim survived a run out scare yet again. Mehidy then dismissed Rashid for 1 off 2 balls.
Mehidy bowled full and outside off-stump, Rashid stepped down the track and looked to loft it over covers but didn’t get the required elevation and chipped it straight into the hands of extra cover who took it safely,. TV umpire was called in to deem it a fair catch and after main replays, they went with the fielding side. Allah Ghazanfar came out to bat next. Tanvir continued and bowled a decent over. Rishad returned to the bowling crease and dropped a tough catch off Ghazanfar. At the end of 40 overs. Afghanistan were reeling at 162/7.
Fizz returned for a fresh spell as Ghazanfar took him on by driving it back past the bowler towards long-on for a boundary. He repeated the same dose next ball by going deep into the crease and hoicked it over the bowler’s head for a boundary. Ghazanfar was not done yet as he launched Fizz by smoking the length ball over deep covers for the maximum. Rishad returned and bowled a quiet over. The Fizz bowled a decent over now.
Miraz then got rid of the set batter Ibrahim for 95 off 140 balls with 3 fours and a maximum to his name. Miraz tossed it up full on middle and leg stump. Ibrahim went for the glory shot as he flicked it aerially towards deep midwicket where Rishad timed his jump to perfection and plucked it away. Bashir Ahmad came out to bat next. Mehidy finished his spell.
Ghazanfar was then dropped off Rishad by Mehidy who was diving from mid-off. Rishad eventually had his man as he dismissed Ghazanfar for 22 off 18 balls with 2 fours and a maximum to his name. Rishad bowled it slower shortish ball on the off-stump. Ghazanfar made room and then holed out to Saif Hassan at long-on. Rahmat Shah came back to resume his innings. He tried to play a sweep shot and lost his balance to fall on the ground. He was in extreme pain and walked back on a wheelchair. Afghanistan’s innings ended at 190 in 44.5 overs with Rahmat retiring hurt on 9 off 12 balls with a boundary to his name and Bashir unbeaten on 0 off 4 balls. 5 extras given by the fielding side.
It was a good bowling display by Bangladesh led by their captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz who finished with 3/42 in 10 overs. Tanzim Hasan Sakib finished with 2/35 in 7 overs. Rishad Hossain finished with 2/37 in 9.5 overs. Tanvir Islam finished with 1/35 in 10 overs. Mustafizur Rahman was wicketless in his 0/38 in 8 overs. This meant Bangladesh needed 191 runs to win off 50 overs to level the series 1-1.
Rashid Khan’s 5/17 skittled Bangladesh out for 109 in 28.3 overs.Â
Chasing 191 for the win, Tanzid Hasan and Saif Hassan came out to open for Bangladesh while Azmatullah Omarzai had ball in hand for Afghanistan. Omarzai struck straightaway getting rid of Tanzid for a duck. Omarzai bowled a bouncer that cramped Tanzid into the body. He went for the pull shot and played it uppishly. The ball skewed off the top edge and went to fine leg who swivelled and took the catch. Najmul Hossain Shanto came out to bat next as Omarzai started with a wicket maiden over.
Bashir Ahmad got the ball from the other end. Shanto slogged it away to deep square leg for a boundary to get the innings going. Omarzai continued and bowled a decent over. Bashir gave a flurry of wides as Saif in between got underneath the ball and smoked it away for a boundary. Saif then pulled Bashir for a boundary past midwicket region. Omarzai continued. Bangladesh lost another as Shanto was run out while trying to take the second run and fell short of the crease despite the dive. He fell for 7 off 9 balls with a boundary to his name. Towhid Hridoy came out to bat next.
Allah Ghazanfar was introduced into the attack next as spin came inside the first powerplay. Hridoy got off the mark with a boundary by slicing it past backward point. Omarzai continued as Saif chipped him over mid-off for a boundary. He then took on Omarzai and deposited him with a flick over deep square leg for the maximum. Omarzai had the last laugh as he dismissed Saif for 22 off 23 balls with 3 fours and a maximum to his name.
Omarzai bowled a short pitched delivery angled in on the off-stump. Hassan went deep in the crease and went for the upper cut. But he was cramped for room and holed out to the fielder at third man. Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz came out to bat next. Ghazanfar continued and bowled a decent over. Hridoy then got a lucky inside edge past the stumps for a boundary at fine leg region. Ghazanfar continued and bowled a decent over. At the end of the first powerplay, Bangladesh were in a spot of bother at 48/3 in 10 overs.
Omarzai struck again as he removed Miraz for 4 off 7 balls. Omarzai bowled a nip backer which Miraz missed and the ball thudded him over the back knee roll. The good length delivery that shaped back in from outside off-stump. The umpire gave it. Mehidy reviewed and saw three reds and had to walk back to the hut burning a review as well. Jaker Ali came out to bat next and went off the mark with a boundary by flashing hard and got it over the slips for a boundary at third man.
Rashid Khan was soon introduced into the attack. Rashid bowled a quiet over to start things off. Omarzai continued and bowled another probing over. Rashid also kept things under check. After 14 overs, Bangladesh were 65/4 and in trouble when Drinks was called into the field. Ghazanfar returned as Hridoy took the attack to him by hitting him for back-to-back boundaries through square leg and backward square leg as well.
Nangeyalia Kharote came into the attack next. Kharote started with a quiet over. Rashid then struck for his side as he dismissed Hridoy for 24 off 34 balls with 4 fours to his name. Rashid bowled it full and at the off-stump. Hridoy cleared his front leg and looked to heave it across the line but missed it as the ball cannoned into the middle stump. Nurul Hasan came out to bat next and got off the mark soon. Nurul heaved Kharote into the gap at deep midwicket region for a boundary. Rashid continued and bowled another tight over. Kharote too kept things tight as Bangladesh reached 92/5 in 20 overs.
Rashid kept the stranglehold of the innings going. Nurul broke the shackles as he rocked onto the back foot and pulled it away to deep midwicket region for a boundary off Kharote. Nurul got a reprieve as Gurbaz dropped him off Kharote as a tough chance went down. Rashid eventually had his man as he dismissed Nurul for 15 off 20 balls with 2 fours to his name.
Rashid bowled it full and tossed up googly. Nurul got down on one knee and looked to play the slog sweep. She got beaten on the inside edge and the off-stump went for an evening walk. Tanzim Hasan Sakib came out to bat next and was dismissed by Rashid for a golden duck first ball. Rashid bowled a good length on the off-stump which was a googly. Sakib didn’t pick it from the hand. He got pinned on the pads. The appeal and the umpire raised the finger.
Rashid though he had the hat-trick as new batter Rishad Hossain was given OUT first ball LBW. Rishad reviewed and good he did as the ball showed to be missing the wickets. Rishad survived the hat-trick ball. Kharote continued and got rid of Jaker Ali for 18 off 43 balls with a boundary to his name. Kharote bowled a length ball around the off-stump gripping and turning away. Jaker made room on the leg side and looked to punch but failed to keep it down. Rashid Khan at short extra cover moved to his left and took the simple catch. Tanvir Islam came out to bat next.
The 100 finally came up for Bangladesh in 24.2 overs for the loss of 8 wickets. At the halfway stage, Bangladesh were staring down at a defeat at 100/8 in 25 overs. Kharote bowled a maiden over. Rashid continued and got rid of Tanvir Islam for a duck. Rashid bowled from around the wicket a length ball outside off-stump that came in with the angle. Tanvir looked to pull but missed and wore it on the back pad. Looked OUT and the finger went up as well. Tanvir reviewed in hope and saw no bat involved and three reds on ball tracking. Mustafizur Rahman walked out to bat at the end.
Rishad was next given a reprieve as Ibrahim dropped the catch at long-on off Kharote. Rashid then finished things off for Afghanistan as he dismissed Rishad for 5 off 15 balls. Rashid bowled from over the wicket a length ball outside off-stump, a googly. Rishad stepped down and looked to go big down the ground. He missed it completely and Gurbaz whipped off the bails in a flash. TV umpire was called to check the stumping. Rishad was short of his crease and OUT loaded on the screen. Rashid had his 6th five-wicket haul. Rahman was unbeaten on 5 off 6 balls as Bangladesh were skittled out for 109 in 28.3 overs. 9 extras given by Afghanistan.
Rashid Khan was the star with the ball with his figures of 5/17 in 8.3 overs. Azmatullah Omarzai was brilliant with the new ball with figures of 3/27 in 7 overs. Kharote got a wicket in his 1/22 in 7 overs. There was one run out in the innings. Bashir Ahmad’s 2 overs cost 22 runs. Ghazanfar’s 4 overs cost 21 runs. So, Afghanistan win by 81 runs and clinch the series 2-0 with a game to spare. For his superb 95, Ibrahim Zadran was awarded the Player of the Match.
What Lies Ahead.Â
There is one more match to be played in the series and that is the 3rd ODI on Tuesday 14th October 2025 in Abu Dhabi as Bangladesh will take on Afghanistan. Afghanistan has sealed the series and will look to whitewash Bangladesh. Bangladesh will play for pride and with series decided, we can expect wholesale changes to the teams.
Let’s see how the third and final match of the series shapes up in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Also Read: AFG vs BAN: Ibrahim Zadran’s Terrific Knock Flabbergasts Bangladesh