Azmatullah Omarzai shone with the bat and then with the ball as his all-round show helped Afghanistan beat Bangladesh to draw first blood in the series. Azmatullah Omarzai looked determined to perform well for his team and he came out there with flying colours. Asked to bowl first, Afghanistan rode on Omarzai’s 3-wicket haul and Rashid Khan’s 3-wicket haul as well to keep Bangladesh down to 221 in 48.5 overs.
In reply, twin fifties from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rahmat Shah alongside a crucial 40 from Azmatullah Omarzai took Afghanistan over the line with 5 wickets and 17 balls to spare. The Afghans draw first blood in the series and Bangladesh with all to do in the remaining two matches also to be played in Abu Dhabi.
Rashid Khan & Azmatullah Omarzai’s 3-wicket hauls restricts Bangladesh to 221
Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, debutant Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan walked out to bat for Bangladesh while Bashir Ahmad had ball in hand for Afghanistan. Tanzid made his intentions clear and got off the mark with a boundary by a thick outside edge to the third man fence.
Azmatullah Omarzai took the ball from the other end. He bowled a quiet first over. Bashir continued as Saif hit his first boundary of the game by cutting it to deep backward point. Tanzid was given a reprieve as Rahmat Shah dropped a dolly off Omarzai at forward square leg. Tanzid managed to get a boundary under streaky circumstances with an edge past the keeper.
Omarzai got the first breakthrough for Afghanistan getting rid of Tanzid Hasan for 10 off 10 balls with 2 fours to his name. Omarzai bowled a good length delivery pitching on the off-stump line and nipped away a tad from the left-hander. The batter poked at it to get a thick outside edge to Gurbaz who made no mistake. Najmul Hossain Shanto came out to bat next and got off the mark as well. Bashir continued as Saif smashed him over cover point for a boundary.
Omarzai struck again getting rid of Shanto for 2 off 5 balls. Omarzai bowled a touch fuller and around off-stump. Shanto committed on the front foot a tad early and tried to check his shot at the last moment. He ended up chipping to Shahidi at mid-off who took the catch. Towhid Hridoy came out to bat next and got off the mark as well.
Allah Ghazanfar came into the attack next. He started with a maiden over. Hridoy then hit Omarzai for a boundary by flicking it to deep midwicket region. Saif then used his feet and heaved it over mid-on off Ghazanfar for a boundary.
Ghazanfar overstepped and the free hit was smashed by Hridoy as he got down on one knee and slog swept it over deep midwicket for the maximum. Bashir continued as Saif cut him over point for a boundary. Saif lofted Bashir again over long-on for a boundary as Bangladesh at the end of 10 overs were 51/2 at the end of the first powerplay.
Ghazanfar continued after the powerplay and bowled a decent over. Nangeyalia Kharote came into the attack next. Kharote struck for Afghanistan as he got rid of Saif Hassan for 26 off 37 balls with 5 fours to her name. Kharote bowled a fuller length delivery on the off-stump line. Saif made room for himself and bent his back knee and looked to thump it over covers but mistimed the stroke to the wide long-off region. Rashid Khan in the deep ran to his left and took a good catch. Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz came out to bat next.
Rashid Khan came into the attack next. He started with a tight over. Kharote continued and kept things under check. Rashid too bowled another decent over. Kharote bowled another decent over as Bangladesh reached 65/3 in 16 overs when the first Drinks Break was called into the field. Rashid continued after the break and bowled a miserly over. Kharote continued as Afghanistan challenged LBW call against Miraz which was turned down. The decision was upheld as Afghanistan lost a review. Rashid bowled another tight over.
Miraz broke the shackles by slog sweeping Kharote to the midwicket fence for a boundary. Bangladesh reached 80/3 in 20 overs as the President Mohammad Nabi was introduced into the attack next. Nabi bowled a miserly first over. Kharote bowled another good over as boundaries had dried up now. Nabi too kept things tight. Rashid too bowled a good over troubling the batters. Nabi was giving nothing away as Bangladesh reached 98/3 in 25 overs at the halfway stage of the innings.
The 100 came up for Bangladesh in 25.1 overs. The 50-run stand came up between Hridoy and Miraz. Nabi cintinued and kept the stranglehold going. Ghazanfar came back into the attack and bowled another good over as Miraz survived a LBW scare. Nabi continued as Hridoy broke the shackles by smashing it over long-on for the maximum. Miraz then hit Ghazanfar for the maximum over deep midwicket and he overstepped as well. The free hit yielded a dot ball as Bangladesh reached 131/3 in 30 overs.
Nabi continued as Hridoy brought up his fifty off 75 balls by whacking it over deep midwicket for the maximum. Kharote returned and bowled a maiden over. Omarzai came back into the attack as well. He too bowled a tight over. Kharote continued as Mehidy reached his fifty off 74 balls. Drinks was taken at the score of 147/3 in 34 overs. Omarzai gave away 4 leg byes to the batting side. The 100-run stand came up between the two players.
Hridoy was run out against the run of play for 56 off 85 balls with one four and 3 sixes to his name as the miscommunication led to his downfall. Jaker Ali came out to bat next and got off the mark as well. Jaker hit Omarzai for a boundary by pulling it to deep backward square leg, Miraz was given OUT LBW to Kharote but he reviewed via DRS and got the decision back in his favour. Kharote kept things tight as usual. Rashid Khan came back into the attack.
He struck for Afghanistan getting rid of Miraz for 60 off 87 balls with one four and one six to his name. Rashid bowled a fuller in length googly on the off and middle stump. The batter looked to play at it and got beaten on the inside edge. The umpire gave it OUT. Miraz reviewed and it was three reds on ball tracking as Rashid picked his 200th ODI wicket. Nurul Hasan walked out to bat next. Ghazanfar bowled another tight over as Bangladesh were now 177/5 in 40 overs with 10 overs to go.
Rashid struck again as he dismissed Jaker Ali for 10 off 16 balls with a boundary to his name. Rashid bowled a length ball around off-stump googly that pitched and turned back in. Jaker rocked back and was playing for the leggie. He got beaten on the inside edge and was wrapped on the back pad. The umpire gave it OUT. Tanzim Hasan Sakib came out to bat next. Ghazanfar continued and bowled a decent over. Afghanistan appealed against Sakib for LBW but the decision was upheld as they burnt both the reviews.
Ghazanfar continued as Sakib broke the shackles by heaving it away over wide long-on for the maximum. Rashid struck again getting rid of Nurul Hasan for 7 off 14 balls. Rashid bowled a tossed up delivery around off-stump which was a googly. Nurul prod forward to defend but he plays down the wrong line. He got beaten on the inside edge and wore it on the front pad. The finger was raised as Hasan Mahmud came to the crease next. Rashid finished his spell as Bangladesh reached 197/7 in 45 overs.
Omarzai came back into the attack as the 200 came up for Bangladesh in 45.4 overs. Ghazanfar continued and got rid of Mahmud for 5 off 9 balls. Tossed up delivery full around off-stump leggie. Mahmud swung his bat across the line and got a top edge which ballooned up in the air. Ibrahim took a simple catch at backward point. Taskin Ahmed came to the crease next.
Omarzai then got rid of Sakib for 17 off 23 balls with a maximum to his name. He bowled short of a length delivery outside off-stump slower ball. Sakib cleared his front leg and looked to muscle it straight down the ground. He mistimed it from the splice of the blade as Nabi took a simple catch at long-on. Tanvir Islam came out to bat at the end and got off the mark as well. Taskin hit Omarzai for a boundary by flicking it past short fine leg.
Ghazanfar continued as Tanvir stepped out and pumped it over the bowler’s head for a boundary. He then hit Allah over deep midwicket region for the maximum. But the bowler hit back getting rid of Tanvir for 11 off 8 balls with one four and one six to his name. He bowled a short of a length delivery around the fourth stump line googly. Tanvir stepped out and swung his bat across the line. He got beaten on the outside edge as Gurbaz did the rest. Taskin remained unbeaten on 4 off 1 ball with a boundary to his name as Bangladesh were bowled out for 221 in 48.5 overs. 13 extras given by the fielding side.
Rashid Khan was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan with figures of 3/38 in 10 overs. He was ably supported by Azmatullah Omarzai who finished with 3/40 in 9 overs. Allah Ghazanfar chipped in with 2/55 in 9.5 overs. Kharote finished with 1/32 in 10 overs. Mohammad Nabi and Bashir Ahmad remained wicketless. This mean Afghanistan needed 222 runs to win off 50 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series.
All-round batting display takes Afghanistan past the finishing line
Chasing 222 for the win, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran came out to bat for Afghanistan while Taskin Ahmed had ball in hand for Bangladesh. Ibrahim was quick off the blocks as he opened the face of the bat and drove it through backward point for a boundary. Hasan Mahmud shared the new ball from the other end. Ibrahim leaned forward and drove it solidly through the covers for a boundary. Taskin continued and bowled a decent over.
Ibrahim pulled Mahmud over deep square leg for a boundary. Gurbaz got into the act as he launched him down the ground for the maximum. Tanvir Islam came into the attack next. He bowled a decent first over. Tanzim Hasan Sakib was introduced into the attack next. Ibrahim helped it on its way past long leg for a boundary. Tanvir continued and bowled a decent over.
Gurbaz pulled Sakib away through midwicket and mid-on for a boundary. The 50 came up and of the partnership between the two players. Tanvir continued and got rid of Ibrahim for 23 off 25 balls with 4 fours to his name. Tanvir tossed it up around off-stump gripped and turned away. Ibrahim danced down the track and looked to smash it through the off-side and got beaten on the outside edge and Nurul did the rest behind the stumps. Sediqullah Atal came out to bat next and got off the mark. After 10 overs at the completion of mandatory powerplay, Afghanistan were 53/1.
Sakib continued and bowled a miserly over. Mehidy Hasan Miraz came into the attack next. He started his spell with a decent over. Sakib got rid of Atal for 5 off 15 balls. He bowled from around the wicket a back of a length delivery shaping into the left-hander, around off-stump. The left-hander closed his bat face a tad early and got the top edge to first slip who made no mistake. Rahmat Shah came out to bat next. Tanvir continued and bowled a decent over.
Hasan Mahmud came back into the attack. He also bowled a tight first over. Miraz too kept things tight as Afghanistan reached 66/2 in 16 overs when the first Drinks Break was taken. Mahmud continued and bowled a decent over. Miraz continued and bowled a miserly over yet again. Mahmud bowled another tight over. Miraz also kept things under check as Afghanistan reached 80/2 in 20 overs.
Tanvir Islam continued as Rahmat broke the shackles by coming down the track and slammed it over top of short extra cover for a boundary. Miraz bowled another decent over. Tanvir Islam bowled well as runs came in singles at this stage. The 100 came up for Afghanistan in 24 overs. Islam continued and bowled a decent over as Afghanistan at the halfway stage of the chase were 104/2 in 25 overs. Taskin continued as the 50-run stand came up between the two players.
Tanvir Islam continued as Rahmat broke the shackles and walked down to get to the pitch of the ball and chipped it down the ground for a boundary. Debutant Saif Hassan came into the attack now. He bowled a decent over. Taskin continued and bowled a decent over. Saif continued as Rahmat reached his fifty off 68 balls. After 30 overs, Afghanistan were 135/2 and on course to win this game.
Tanzim came back into the attack. Gurbaz got to his fifty off 74 balls as well. Tanzim got Bangladesh the breakthrough getting rid of Shah for 50 off 70 balls with 2 fours to his name. Sakib bowled short of a length delivery outside the off-stump. The batter looked to keep the ball along the ground but got a little high on the bat and the ball flew straight to Miraz at short midwicket. Drinks was taken at this point after which Hashmatullah Shahidi came out to bat next.
Miraz came back into the attack. He then dismissed Gurbaz for 50 off 76 balls with a boundary and a maximum to his name. Miraz bowled a flighted delivery full and pitched outside the off-stump and turned it sharply. Gurbaz pressed forward to defend it but played the wrong line as the ball went through the gap between bat and pad to rattle the stumps. Azmatullah Omarzai came out to bat next. Omarzai was given OUT caught behind but he reviewed it to get the decision back in his favour successfully.
Sakib continued and bowled a miserly over. Miraz too kept things under check. Omarzai broke the shackles by slapping across the line and the ball went away to deep midwicket for a boundary. Miraz bowled another decent over. Mahmud continued as Omarzai danced down the track and stayed leg side of the ball and lofted it over wide mid-off for a boundary. Mahmud sprayed the wides around. Miraz continued and bowled a decent over. Tanvir Islam came back into the attack. He too bowled a decent over.
Omarzai took the attack to Miraz as he rocked back and pulled it away to deep midwicket for a boundary. Then he launched Miraz over deep midwicket down on one knee for the maximum. After 40 overs, Afghanistan were 169/4 and needed 53 more off 60 balls. Shahidi got into the act as he stepped down the track and slammed it past mid-off for a boundary. Tanvir finished his spell as well. Saif returned to the bowling crease and bowled a decent over.
Sakib returned to the bowling crease as Omarzai pulled him away to deep square leg for a boundary. Omarzai hit him again by making room and cutting it away past deep cover point for a boundary. He completed a hat-trick of boundaries past backward point cutting him away. Sakib had the last laugh removing Omarzai for 40 off 44 balls with 6 fours and a maximum to his name.
He bowled a length ball around middle and leg slower ball. Omarzai looked to work it away on the onside. He got a leading edge which lobbed up in the air. The fielder at short midwicket took the catch. Mohammad Nabi came out to bat next. Taskin came back into the attack. Shahidi pulled him away to long leg region for a boundary as the 200 came up in 43.5 overs for Afghanistan. Hasan Mahmud continued and bowled a decent over as Afghanistan reached 208/5 in 45 overs needing a further 14 runs in 30 balls.
Taskin bowled a beamer delivery which was deemed a no ball. The free hit was a wide ball. Free hit yielded a brace. Najmul Hossain Shanto came into the attack. He bowled a decent over. The winning runs came off the bat of Mohammad Nabi by smashing it down the ground for the maximum as Afghanistan won the game by 5 wickets with 17 balls to spare. Shahidi remained unbeaten on 33 off 46 balls with 2 fours to his name while Nabi remained unbeaten on 11 off 8 balls with a maximum to his name. 14 extras given by Bangladesh as the win was achieved by Afghanistan.
A tough outing for the Bangladesh bowlers. Tanzim Hasan Sakib was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/31 in 7 overs. Tanvir Islam chipped in with 1/42 in 10 overs while Mehidy Hasan Miraz chipped in with 1/32 in 10 overs. Hasan Mahmud gave away 40 runs in 8 overs. Taskin Ahmed gave away 50 runs in 8 overs. Saif Hassan gave away 24 runs in 3.1 overs. Najmul Hossain Shanto bowled an over for 4 runs. So, Afghanistan take a 1-0 lead in the series and for his all-round performance, Azmatullah Omarzai was awarded the Player of the Match.
What Lies Ahead
Afghanistan lead the series 1-0 with 2 games to be played. The second ODI will be played in Abu Dhabi on Saturday October 11th at 5:30 PM IST. Bangladesh will aim to level the series while Afghanistan will look to seal the series on Saturday itself. Let’s see how things pan out on Saturday.
Also Read: AFG vs BAN: Rashid Khan & Azmatullah Omarzai Restricts Bangladesh To 221