Afghanistan thumped Bangladesh by 142 runs to secure the series by 2-0 with 1 match to spare. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran were stars with the bat while Mujeeb, Rashid and Fazalhaq Farooqi were the stars with the ball which helped them win the series on Saturday (8th July) at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong.

Bangladesh’s interim skipper Litton Das won the toss and elected to bowl first on a batting friendly deck and that really hurt them in the match. After coming out to bat, Afghanistan opener took them to a rollicking start. Gurbaz got his eye in and cashed on everything loose. The intent from him put pressure on the Bangladeshi bowlers from the very start of their innings. Ibrahim Zadran on the other hand looked solid like a rock and was playing the second fiddle role along with Gurbaz. But their was no stopping for Gurbaz.

The openers added 67 after powerplay and kept going at the same pace as the runs were 132 after 20 overs without losing any. Throughout the passage of play, Rahmanullah Gurbaz notched up his 4th ODI hundred and 2nd against Bangladesh. He got his 100 only in 100 deliveries. On the other hand, Ibrahim Zadran too brought up his fifty off 75 balls. After his half century Zadran upped the ante and took 19 off Ebadot Hossain's over. The duo broke Afghanistan's old record of highest 142 in the opening in ODI's.

On the contrary, the interim skipper Litton felt the heat properly. He tried with his everything but everyone seemed to be clueless infront of these two Afghan openers. But the marquee all rounder Shakib Al Hasan provided the breakthrough as he trapped Gurbaz infront of his pads for LBW and Gurbaz had to go after a blistering 145 off 125 deliveries. He went berserk over Bangladeshi bowlers and smacked 8 massive sixes and 13 boundaries in his innings. After the departure of Gurbaz, Afghanistan crumbled like dominoes. In the very next over, Ebadot picked up the wicket of new batter Rahmat. While Mehedi Miraz knocked out skipper Shahidi. Najibullah too couldn’t do anything as he nicked off to Miraz for 10 and Afghanistan soon became 306-6 from 259-2.

However veteran all rounder Mohammad Nabi smacked for a while at the end and helped Afghanistan post a mammoth total of 331-9 after alloted 50 overs. Mustafizur, Hasan Mahmud, Miraz and Shakib all got two apiece. While Ebadot got solitary one before getting injured.

Chasing the 332, Bangladesh had a sedate start as the new opener Mohammad Naim gave a whole over dot to Fazalhaq Farooqi in the very first over. Add more pain to the point, Litton got out to Fazalhaq, while Shanto was cleaned up by Mujeeb and Bangladesh were stuttering for 20-2 after 6 overs. After struggling for a bit Naim Sheikh too was knocked over by the sheer pace of Fazalhaq Farooqi. Shakib and Towhid then steered the ship for a while and stitched a partnership of 40 runs before Rashid Khan bamboozled Towhid Hridoy. Mohammad Nabi then trapped Shakib infront of his pads for LBW and Bangladesh fell into a deep sea in massive run chase. They were crumbling for 71-5. Rashid Khan didn’t stop his riot he got Afif Hossain for duck. And then a resurgence happened as Mushfiqur and Miraz stitched a partnership of 87 runs and which only helped Bangladesh reduce the deficit only. And then eventually the lower order got out and Bangladesh lost the match by 142 runs. 

Rahmanullah Gurbaz was named as the player of the match for his outstanding 145 off 125 deliveries.