Ghazanfar takes six to help Afghanistan thrash Bangladesh in Sharjah

SHARJAH (Agencies): Young AM Ghazanfar took six wickets as Afghanistan thrashed Bangladesh by 92 runs in the first ODI held on Wednesday in Sharjah, leading the three-match series 1-0. After winning the toss, Afghanistan chose to bat on the challenging Sharjah pitch and posted 235 runs. During the chase, Bangladesh lost Tanzid Hasan Tamim early on, however, Soumya Sarkar formed a good partnership with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto to stabilize the start, followed by another promising stand with Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Despite being well-set, neither Shanto nor Miraz could extend their innings, which ultimately cost Bangladesh dearly. When Shanto was batting alongside Miraz, it seemed Bangladesh was on track for an easy win. The team was comfortably positioned at 120 for two. But within the addition of just 23 more runs, Bangladesh was all out, as if the batters were competing to reach the pavilion. The result was a heavy defeat by 92 runs. After the departure of the two set batters, a collapse ensued. One by one, the remaining batters fell to Ghazanfar, who recently debuted in international cricket. The spinner claimed six wickets, dismantling Bangladesh’s batting with his carrom balls, while Rashid Khan’s googlies added further trouble, sealing Bangladesh’s defeat.

Earlier, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman each claimed four wickets, helping Bangladesh bowl Afghanistan out for 235 runs. Veteran Afghan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi scored 84, while captain Hashmatullah Shahidi contributed a half-century. Taskin made an early breakthrough by dismissing dangerous opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for just five. The ball moved away, leading Gurbaz to attempt a drive that only resulted in an edge to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.

Mustafizur took Bangladesh’s second wicket in his first over, striking with his second ball as Rahman Shah edged a shot to the keeper. Mustafizur continued to trouble the Afghan batters, striking twice in his fifth over to dismiss debutant Sediqullah Atal for 21 and Azmatullah Omarzai for a duck. Taskin then clipped Afghanistan’s batting wings by dismissing Gulbadin Naib, who was trying to build a partnership with Shahidi. Despite the setback, Shahidi and Nabi managed to put together a 104-run partnership. The captain scored 52 off 92 balls before his dismissal, while Nabi continued his resistance from the other end. Former captain and Afghanistan’s first cricket star, Nabi, played a sparkling innings of 84 runs off 79 balls, hitting three sixes and four boundaries. Nangeyalia Kharote contributed 27 runs off 28 balls. Apart from Taskin and The Fizz, another pacer Shoriful Islam took one wicket. Although spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz remained wicketless, he bowled economically, conceding only 30 runs in his 10 overs. Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, however, struggled, giving away 44 runs in 8 overs.

Brief scores:

Afghanistan 235 (Nabi 84, Shahidi 52, Taskin 4-53, Mustafizur 4-58) beat Bangladesh 143 (Shanto 47, Sarkar 33, Ghazanfar 6-26) by 92 runs.