Bangladesh team's batting lineup has an old disease of collapsing. It was repeated tomorrow, in a history-making match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium as the first venue to host 300 international matches. Bangladesh were bowled out for 143 runs in the first match of the ODI series against Afghanistan, losing the last 8 wickets for 23 runs. Afghanistan won by 92 runs. With this victory, the Afghans lead the three-match series 1-0.
But at one time it seemed that Bangladesh will not lose in this match. Batting with a target of 236 runs, Bangladesh scored 118 runs for 2 wickets in 25 overs. Then the team's simple equation to win was so simple – 118 in 25 overs with 8 wickets remaining. But the batting lineup of Bangladesh fell in front of this simple equation.
Mohammad Ghazanfar's unintelligible spin has caused the Bangladesh batters the most trouble. He took 6 wickets for 26 runs. This is the first time an Afghan bowler has taken 5 or more wickets against Bangladesh in an ODI.
The team lost Tanjid Tamim by 12 runs in the run chase, but two fifties between captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto (53) with Soumya Sarkar and Shanto and Mehdi Hasan Miraj (55) for the second wicket did not allow the start. But Bangladesh batsmen failed to play with the responsibility that they are supposed to play on the wicket, as always. Let's not talk about Soumya's outing. He scored 33 runs off 45 balls with 6 fours. But the way he got out, it seemed that he got up to get out! Soumya, who survived the appeal of LBW in the previous ball, went to pull Azmatullah Omarzai unnecessarily. Went to pull on a short length ball. When 13 runs are needed in 5 balls, this shot can be played at risk!
Despite getting 'life' a few times, Shanto got out before touching fifty. Even though he scored 47 runs in 68 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes, he can also be criticized. The shot was caught at fine leg while sweeping the ball outside the off stump. After that, Ghaznafar's 'Gazbe' hit the Bangladesh innings. Lost 8 wickets in the last 23 runs.
Before winning the toss and batting first, Afghanistan scored 235 runs before being all out in 49.4 overs. Afghanistan lost 4 wickets for 35 runs in the face of the bowling cannon of Taskin Ahmed and Mostafizur Rahman. At that time, it was not thought that the score of the Afghans would exceed one hundred and two hundred. But that was possible due to the batting of captain Hasmatullah Shahidi and experienced all-rounder Mohammad Nabi. Both scored fifty. Shahidi scored 52 off 92 balls before falling to Mustafiz. And he scored 84 runs off 79 balls before getting the wicket of Taskin. Thanks to this innings arranged with 4 fours and 3 sixes, the name of the Afghan all-rounder has also risen to a small place in the record book. He is now the oldest batsman to play 50+ innings against Bangladesh.
After falling to 4 wickets for 35 runs, Shahidi made a partnership of 36 runs with Gulbdin Naib for the fifth wicket. After Naid's departure, Nabi-Shahidi scored 104 runs off 122 balls. This pair helped the Afghans score 235 runs. Taskin and Mostafiz are the most successful with the ball. Both took 4 wickets each.
