Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Azmatullah Omarzai were the stars of the show as Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by five wickets on Monday to claim the three-match ODI series 2-1. Gurbaz became the second youngest after Quinton de Kock with eight ODI hundreds in Men’s T20Is as the Afghans won the deciding game by five wickets at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Gurbaz couldn’t score big in the first two games, but made amends in the decider.
Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, 3rd ODI Updates
After being asked to bat first, Bangladesh racked up a decent score of 244 for eight. But it would not have been possible had Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who made his ODI captaincy debut in the absence of Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Mahmudullah not stepped up. Miraz and Riyad put on 145 runs for the fifth wicket after the Tigers were reduced to 72 for four in 14.4 overs.
Miraz scored 66 runs off 119 balls with four fours. Mahmdullah, who failed in the first two games, notched 98 runs at a run-a-ball with the help of seven fours and three sixes. He was run out in the final ball of the innings while trying to complete the second run.
Zakir Hasan, who replaced Shanto in the playing XI, could only manage four runs before getting run out. Tanzid Hasan Tamim (19) and Soumya Sarkar (24) got starts before getting out. Azmatullah Omarzai was the pick of the Afghan bowlers with figures of 7-0-37-4.
Gurbaz, Omarzai step up for Afghanistan
Rahmanullah Gurbaz led the charge for Afghanistan with his eighth hundred in ODIs. The Afghans lost Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi in quick succession. But Gurbaz never let pressure build on their batting lineup. The youngster put on 100 runs for the fourth wicket with Azmatullah Omarzai to take Afghanistan closer.
He got to his fifty off 60 after which he brought up yet another three-figure score off 117 balls. Miraz gave Bangladesh the much-needed breakthrough, dismissing Gurbaz, who perished after scoring 101 runs off 120 balls, laced with five fours and seven sixes.
After Gurbaz got out, Omarzai carried the momentum for Afghanistan and notched his half-century off 57 balls. He stayed not out on 70 off 77 balls as the Afghans chased down the target with 10 balls to spare. Mohammad Nabi lent him support with an unbeaten 34-run knock. Nahid Rana and Mustafizur Rahman picked up two wickets apiece.
