Catastrophic collapse hands Tigers 92-run loss in first Afghanistan ODI

A catastrophic collapse sank Bangladesh and handed them a humiliating 92-run loss in the first ODI of the three-match series against Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

The Tigers were at 120 for three after 26 overs and on course to chase down Afghanistan's 235-run total, with a well-set Mehedi Hasan Miraz in the middle. Trouble struck when Miraz (51-ball 28) was dismissed by off-spinner Allah Ghazanfar in the fourth delivery of the 31st over as Bangladesh lost the next six wickets in 22 balls while adding just 11 runs, meaning they were bundled out for 143 in pursuit of Afghanistan's 236-run target.

Ghazanfar was the chief destroyer as he was responsible for five of the scalps that fell in the collapse, while Rashid Khan accounted for the other two wickets. Ghazanfar completed a fifer and registered his career-best figure of 6-26.

Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored for his side with a 68-ball 47.  

Earlier, Mohammad Nabi and Hashmatullah Shahidi hit fifties to help propel their side to 235 after they chose to bat first. 

The duo put on a 104-run stand for the sixth wicket after they were reduced to 71-5 in 20 overs.

Nabi put away four boundaries and three maximums for his 79-ball 84, while Shahidi's vigilant half-century (52) saw him take 92 balls to reach the 92. A 28-ball 27 from tailender Nangeyalia Kharote gave the Afghans a late surge.

Bangladesh pacers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman took four wickets apiece, while Shoriful Islam scalped one.                    

Bangladesh suffered a catastrophic collapse as they lost six wickets for 19 runs which put the Tigers on the brink of defeat in the first ODI of the three-match series against Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

Bangladesh were 131 for three after the 30th over, with a well-set Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Towhid Hridoy at the crease but off-psinner Allah Ghazanfar took four wickets and Rashid Khan scalped two in four overs to rattle the Tigers.

Shanto departs but Tigers on course 

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto missed out on a half-century as he was dismissed for a 68-ball 47 in pursuit of a 236-run target in the first ODI of the three-match series against Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

Shanto, who hit four boundaries and two maximums, tried to reach the landmark with an expansive sweep but ended up top-edging a Mohammad Nabi delivery to short fine leg. The dismissal brought an end to a 55-run stand between Shanto and Mehedi Hasan Miraz and reduced the Tigers to three down for 123 after 27 overs. Miraz remained unbeaten on 27 off 39 balls and was joined by Towhid Hridoy. 

Tigers lose both openers 

Bangladesh opener Tanzid Tamim and Souma Sarker departed to leave the Tigers two down for 65 in pursuit of a 236-run target in the first ODI of the three-match series against Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

Tanzid, who scored a five-ball three, was castled in the fourth over by off-spinner Allah Ghazanfar, while Soumya was caught at deep fine leg after scoring a 45-ball 33. 

Nabi, Shahidi fifties propel Afghanistan to 235 in first Bangladesh ODI 

Mohammad Nabi and Hashmatullah Shahidi hit fifties to help propel their side to 235 in the first ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh at the Sharjah Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

The duo put on a 104-run stand for the sixth wicket after they were reduced to 71-5 in 20 overs.

Nabi put away four boundaries and three maximums for his 79-ball 84, while Shahidi's vigilant half-century (52) saw him take 92 balls to reach the 92. A 28-ball 27 from tailender Nangeyalia Kharote gave the Afghans a late surge.

Bangladesh pacers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman took four wickets apiece, while Shoriful Islam scalped one.                    

Shahidi, Nabi lead Afghanistan fightback

Afghanistan skipper and middle-order batter Mohammad Nabi hit fifties and put together a 99-run stand for the sixth wicket to stage a remarkable comeback after they were reduced to 71-5 after 20 overs in the first ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh at the Sharjah Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

The duo propelled Afghanistan to 170-5 after 39 overs.

Nabi hit two fours and as many sixes to reach his half-century in 52 balls, his 17th in ODIs, while Shahidi, who hit just two fours, took 87 balls to make his fifty.

Bangladesh pacers on top as Afghanistan lose five 

Mustafizur Rahman took three wickets and Taskin Ahmed scalped two to reduce Afghanistan to five down for 71 after 20 overs in the first ODI of the three-match series at the Sharjah Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi remained unbeaten on a 35-ball 18 and was joined by Mohammad Nabi. 

Gurbaz, Rahmat fall cheaply but Atal stands firm

Afghanistan's batting mainstay Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell for a seven-ball five but debutant Sediqullah Atal was going briskly as the hosts recovered from the early blow.

Gurbaz was nicked off by Taskin Ahmed, with Mushfiqur Rahim taking a tumbling catch behind the wicket as the Afghans lost their first wicket for seven runs. But Atal and Rahmat Shah were doing the repair work, with the debutant left-hander showing his class. 

Atal, who had scored five half-centuries in five matches in Afghanistan's recent successful Emerging Asia Cup campaign, was batting on 20 off 24 balls.  

Mustafizur Rahman, bowling his first over, got Rahmat Shah dismissed for a caught-behind as the Afghans lost their second wicket for 30 runs in the eighth over. 

Toss

Afghanistan have won the toss and have elected to bat first in the first match of a three-match ODI series in Sharjah on Wednesday.

This match marks the 300th international fixture at this venue, the highest of any cricket venue in the world.

 In the series between Afghanistan and South Africa, also held at Sharjah, the team batting second won twice, having restricted the opposition to less than 170 on both occasions. The matches in this series, though, are starting at 2pm local time, as opposed to 4pm local time. 

Sediqullah Atal, the highly-regarded batter, is making his debut for Afghanistan while Bangladesh are having to field 11 players from among 13 due to the unavailability of Nasum Ahmed and Nahid Rana over visa issues.

Toss in Sharjah. Photo: ACB

TEAMS:

Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam

Afghanistan XI: Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rahmat Shah, Hashamtullah Shahidi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Nangeyalia Kharote, Fazalhaq Farooqi