There’s meme potential in Jonathan Trott sitting with a smirk on his face as everyone around him celebrated wildly. Azmatullah Omarzai pumped his fist after hitting the winning runs with a straight six in the third ODI against Bangladesh. Mohammad Nabi was quick to get to Azmatullah Omarzai before the Afghanistan dugout emptied to join the batting pair in the middle. Trott celebrated, of course, with his notebook in hand. After all, Afghanistan had sealed their third consecutive ODI series win.
It was a turnaround of sorts for Azmatullah Omarzai, too, after bagging a couple of ducks. He gave Gurbaz the confidence and took on Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a six early in the innings. That was Gurbaz’s cue to continue to dominate the Bangladesh attack without worrying about the other end. Azmatullah Omarzai, who also took four wickets in the game, later said that he was pleased with the way he bowled in the death for the first time in his Afghanistan career. He also kept his nerve in the chase, proving it with a straight six off Shoriful.
Pitch Report and Toss
Pitch Report : There’s a bit of breeze. It’s a brand new pitch but has the same characteristics. Same color, not as much sheen as the previous match. Batting first, you have to get to a 230+ score reckons Ramiz Raja in his pitch report
Toss : Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss and chose to bat with two changes in the playing XI bringing in Zakir Hasan and Nahid Rana for Najmul Hossain Shanto and Taskin Ahmed. Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi bowling first made no changes to the playing XI.
Azmatullah Omarzai’s career best 4-fer restricts Bangladesh to 244 for 8
Bangladesh had no qualms in batting first on a fresh pitch in Sharjah, following their win in the second ODI after defending 252. After a couple of sedate overs, Tanzid Hasan rode his luck after he was dropped at first-slip by Gulbadin Naib and subsequently by Hashmatullah Shahidi off consecutive overs. Bangladesh punished the drop catches as Soumya Sarkar scored two boundaries in a 16-run over off Fazalhaq Farooqi as they raced to 35 in five overs.
Afghanistan had started the game erratically, dropping Tanzid Hasan twice and giving away extras with the ball. But bowling his second over – and the ninth of the innings – Azmatullah Omarzai had Soumya Sarkar chopping on for 24 at just better than a run a ball to break a 53-run opening stand.
Bangladesh continued to up the ante as offspinner Allah Ghazanfar was dispatched for two boundaries through extra-cover, followed by a four from Sarkar which brought up the 50-run partnership. But things started to unravel for Bangladesh when Omarzai got Sarkar to chop one back onto his stumps. Tanzid followed suit in the next over as he drove one straight to Shahidi at point. Mehidy Hasan Miraz then sold Zakir Hasan down the river as he called for a single before turning his back, allowing Nangeyalia Kharote to run out Zakir.
Having tumbled from 53 for 0 to 58 for 3, Bangladesh suffered another setback as Rashid Khan managed to spin a couple of deliveries past Towhid Hridoy before the batter edged one to Naib at slip. Due to the continuous fall of wickets, Bangladesh became very cautious in the next phase of play.
The pair of Mahmudullah and Mehidy scored only 78 runs from the 15th over to the 35th over, going under four an over and scoring only five boundaries and a six in this phase of play. Although Mahmudullah was scoring close to a run-a-ball, Mehidy’s strike-rate dropped closer to the 50 mark.
That seemed to flick a switch. Nabi, bowling the tenth over, had Tanzid slicing to cover point for 19 off a slow and dipping ball; Mehidy, in the 11th, sent Zakir Hasan back after calling for a run, only to result in Zakir’s dismissal on 4; and Rashid Khan, in the 15th, had Hridoy caught at slip for 7. Bangladesh lost 4 for 19 in a period of six overs, when Mehidy, who scored a patient 66, and Mahmudullah, who got a run-a-ball 98, joined hands to add 145 runs for the fifth wicket.
But they took their time to settle, as they managed to add only 49 runs off the first 74 balls of their partnership. Three boundaries came during that period, with two off the outside edge of Mehidy’s bat.
While Mehidy struggled to get even the singles or find the gap, Mahmudullah looked a lot steadier. With Afghanistan keeping a lid on Bangladesh, Mahmudullah hit the first six of the innings when he deposited Nabi over midwicket to end the 35th over. Those hits remained sporadic as Nabi even bowled a maiden over in the 39th.
Mahmudullah brought up his fifty with a single to long-on in the 40th over while Mehidy followed suit in the next over in similar fashion. Mahmudullah ended Mohammad Nabi’s spell – which consisted of two maidens – with a six. Bangladesh upped the scoring rate in the last ten overs, running the singles hard, and finding the boundary at least once in four out of the five overs from the 42nd to the 46th over.
The last ten overs, however, brought Bangladesh 78 runs. It all started when Mahmudullah ended Nabi’s spell ended with another six. In the next over, the 42nd, Mahmudullah carved AM Ghazanfar for four through extra cover. He started the 44th with another boundary – this time over Ghazanfar’s head – before nailing a sweep off Rashid to propel Bangladesh forward.
Seeing that, Mehidy had a change of heart too. With five overs left, he lapped and reverse scooped Azmatullah Omarzai for consecutive boundaries, although perished in the same over when he skied one to extra cover. With Bangladesh at 217 and only 24 balls left, it was down to Mahmudullah to provide the finishing touches; and the double dose of fortune he enjoyed in the 47th over was just what Bangladesh needed for a competitive total.
Mahmudullah was given out lbw off Rashid to start the over, but used DRS to overturn the decision. Two legal balls later, he drove back hard at Rashid, who dropped a difficult catch, his hands stung by the blow. Mahmudullah ended with another six over midwicket – this one off Farooqi. He was on 97 with one ball remaining. Azmatullah Omarzai swung one into off, which Mahmudullah could only clip behind square to be run-out while attempting a second.
But Azmatullah Omarzai broke the 145-run stand as he got Mehidy to sky a short-ball to mid-off. Wicket-keeper Jaker Ali did not survive long as he was caught behind off Azmatullah Omarzai.
Mahmudullah, however, hit Farooqi into the stands to enter the last over on 96 but the batter gave strike to Nasum Ahmed who was castled after he attempted a slog off Azmatullah Omarzai. On 97 with one ball to go, Mahmudullah only managed to find the fielder in the deep and was well-short in attempting to take the second run as Bangladesh finished on 244 for 8.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz ton, Azmatullah Omarzai fifty and four-for win the series for Afghanistan
Similar to Bangladesh, Afghanistan got the ball rolling immediately as they raced to 20 in three overs. Debutant Nahid Rana bowled a maiden in an attempt to quieten the scoring rate but Gurbaz hit a maximum on the onside off Shoriful Islam. Rana finally got his reward for his accurate bowling in his fourth over as he bowled Sediq Ullah Atal with a nip-backer hitting the top of off-stump.
This allowed Nasum and Rana to quieten the scoring as Afghanistan were 45 for 1 at the end of the PowerPlay. Mustafizur Rahman, however, was dispatched by Gurbaz for his third six before coming back to scalp his partner Rahmat Shah, caught and bowled. Despite skipper Shahidi struggling, Gurbaz hit a four off Mehidy and clobbered Rahman for six to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Luck was on Gurbaz’s side as Bangladesh missed a crucial run-out chance in the 19th over, but Shahidi on the other hand fell to Rahman for the third time this series as he edged one to the wide slip fielder. This was sandwiched by Gurbaz bringing up his 50 with a single. Omarzai then got into the act with a six off Mehidy as Afghanistan continued to hold all the aces in the chase.
Finding the boundary at ease and regularity, the batting side always had the required rate under control. Gurbaz, who fought cramps, brought up his century which was also his third against Bangladesh. Azmatullah Omarzai and Gurbaz brought up the 100-run stand in 18.3 overs before the centurion holed out to deep square-leg.
Azmatullah Omarzai clubbed five sixes, the last of which went over long-on to seal the win for his side. The victory was set up by Gurbaz’s eighth ODI hundred, and his fourth-wicket partnership of 100 with Azmatullah Omarzai, after Afghanistan were 84 for 3 in the 21st over. Such had been Gurbaz’s dominance that he had already reached his half-century by that point. All four of his sixes until then had been flung over the leg side, although he did have his share of luck.
When on 24, Gurbaz was dropped by substitute fielder Rishad Hossain at point, and on 48, Towhid Hridoy’s throw from mid-off went wide of the stumps at the non-striker’s end despite Gurbaz having given up after a mix-up with Hashmatullah Shahidi.
Gurbaz kept himself busy by ticking the singles and finding the boundary, and when on 56, Jaker Ali missed stumping him out off Mehidy, when one turned down the leg side – although Jaker might have been blinded by Gurbaz skipping down the pitch. Those bits of fortune taken into account, the ball seemed to fly off Gurbaz’s bat, with the most impressive shot being a hard and flat six over deep backward square leg off Mustafizur Rahman.
Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai ensured the chase remained in Afghanistan’s control for much of the innings. The century came up for Gurbaz in the 38th over, by the end of which, Afghanistan required only another 63 runs off the remaining 72 balls. That was when Afghanistan lost Gurbaz and Naib back-to-back, but Azmatullah Omarzai brought up his half-century just after that, following up a haul of 4 for 37 with the ball to earn himself the Player-of-the-Match award.
Bangladesh looked to have roared back into the contest as Naib was caught behind off Rana, giving the bowler his second wicket. Azmatullah Omarzai was well and truly set by this time and brought up his 57 ball 50, with a boundary through the covers.
The game was well in the balance heading into the last five overs but a four and a six in the 44th and 45th over handed the advantage back to Afghanistan. Nabi then hit four boundaries across two overs to completely swing the tide Afghanistan’s way before Azmatullah Omarzai fittingly finished off the game with a six.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Hashmatullah Shahidi the winning Afghanistan skipper said : Very happy as a captain, the way my team performed, proud of the team. Honestly, when we lost the toss, little bit disappointed. When you see the 2nd innings here, the ball swung and spun, but the boys took responsibility, Gurbaz, Azmat and Nabi played well, proud of them.
[on Gurbaz] He is the matchwinner player, whenever he scored runs, he did a lot for our team, he is very talented and hope he takes that momentum to the future and to the Champions Trophy. The way we are playing right now is very good, if you see everyone is performing and different guys are performing. We will try and make our team even stronger, we have Zimbabwe next, we will try to win that series and take that momentum to the Champions Trophy.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz the losing Bangladesh skipper said : It was a tough job, the boys played really well, especially Riyadh bhai and me. The problem was we did not get wickets in the middle overs. We saw in the last two matches, the wicket was spinning, that’s why I chose to bat.
But dew came and the wicket is easy, but they played really well, especially Gurbaz and Omarzai. [on Nahid Rana] He is playing well. We played after a long time in Sharjah especially in ODIs and we have a series in West Indies next, today we are going there.
Azmatullah Omarzai Player of the Match for his all round show said : Firstly I want to thank Almighty Allah. It was tough for me coming back from the two bad games, but I was positive hitting the ball where I wanted to. Gurbaz was there, so I was confident, if I miss a few balls, I don’t care as Gurbaz can cover.
Whenever I get loose balls I go after it. Wicket was slow, the ball was sticking, so I used more variations, I was speaking to Rashid and he told me to mix it up and that was the plan. I never bowled in the last overs, it was the first time for me so it was tough. It means a lot for me, it is my first Man of the Match in my four-year ODI career and I’m thankful to Allah.
Mohammad Nabi Player of the Series for his performance said : [on his young son who has come out alongside him here] Yes he loves his cricket. In my mind from the last World Cup, I thought of retiring, if I play one Champions Trophy it will be great for me. Just small contributions from my side to the youngsters and my insight to them will be more useful. Lot of time I speak to Ghazanfar and Nangeyalia on what to bowl.
Last series I did not do well with the bat, I worked hard before the series, that was my target to perform in this series and great to perform for the team. Spoke with Omarzai and told him to look for the singles, play straight and boundary will come, the wicket is easy.
Before Monday evening, Rahmanullah Gurbaz averaged 16.73 in 20 innings in run chases in ODIs. But against Bangladesh in Sharjah, he hit 101 – his second century while batting second – with 42 of those runs coming in sixes alone. That took Afghanistan to victory in their pursuit of 245, and gave them their third successive series win.
It was also the first instance of a score getting successfully chased in this series, after totals of 235 and 252 were defended in the previous two games.
Afghanistan are flying high. Their third consecutive ODI series win and they are over the moon. The chase of 244 was not going to be easy with how the first two games went but the pitch tonight played much better and they batted really well too. Gurbaz after two failures made it big with a fine 100. He looked switched on from ball one and found an able ally in Azmatullah Omarzai , the duo’s stand of 100 for the fourth wicket put their side on the way and Nabi came out and added the finishing touches.
When Naib holed out, things looked tricky but the experience of Nabi calmed Azmatullah Omarzai down and the two took their side to a fine win. Bangladesh and Mehidy Miraz showed their inexperience as the spinner bowled poorly and did not build pressure consistently to take wickets. Bangladesh though will be happy with how Nahid Rana bowled tonight, he was superb on debut and was well supported by Mustafizur and Nasum.
Afghanistan are building towards a major push for a bigger trophy in the coming years. They showed glimpses in the last two World Cups, but the Champions Trophy, being Nabi’s swansong, could be the big emotional moment they try for. They have most pieces of the puzzle coming together.
Trott would be required to bring his A game to the tournament too. He has been credited by many for bringing the tactical nous to the Afghan talent and experience. Poker-faced through the game but smiling with a trophy in hand at the end – not a bad picture to be in for Trott.
The trophy is presented to Shahidi and his team-mates join him as they celebrate. Afghanistan are on the rise and in these conditions they are a very very dangerous side. Their trajectory is all the time going up and it will be interesting to see how they do in the Champions Trophy next year. Bangladesh on the other hand were hit with injuries on this tour and they did not have their best players. They go to West Indies next while Afghanistan travel to Zimbabwe for a full tour.