After losing the one-off Test against Bangladesh on their multi-format tour, Afghanistan started the ODI series against the hosts on a positive note as they won the first ODI at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium by 17 runs via Duckworth Lewis Method (DLS).
Asked to bat first, Bangladesh struggled to post a formidable total and managed to reach 169/9 in the rain-reduced 43 overs match. Towhid Hridoy was the standout performer for the home team, scoring a gritty half-century (51 runs off 69 balls) with the support of Litton Das (26 runs off 35 balls). However, the rest of the batting lineup failed to contribute significantly.
The Afghan bowlers put up an impressive display, led by Fazalhaq Farooqi, who claimed three wickets for 24 runs in 8.4 overs. Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan also made valuable contributions, bagging two scalps each. The sensational effort from Afghanistan bowlers restricted the Bangladeshi batters from accelerating the scoring rate and maintained a tight grip on the game.
In reply, Afghanistan comfortably chased down the revised target of 83 runs in 21.4 overs after rain interrupted the match. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (22 runs off 45 balls) and Ibrahim Zadran (41 runs off 58 balls) anchored the innings and guided their team towards victory.
The Bangladeshi bowlers struggled to make breakthroughs, with Taskin Ahmed being the only successful wicket-taker, claiming one wicket for 26 runs in 5.4 overs. Hasan Mahmud and Shakib Al Hasan also managed to take a wicket each, but it was not enough to prevent Afghanistan from sealing the victory.
Farooqi was named the ‘Player of the Match’ for his impressive bowling performance, which played a pivotal role in restricting Bangladesh to a below-par total.
Afghanistan won by 17 runs (DLS Method)#BANvAFG #ODI
Scorecard: https://t.co/SZjEFk6Egj #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/BUZilShBLH
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) July 5, 2023
With this win, Afghanistan takes a 1-0 lead in the series. The second ODI is scheduled to be held on Saturday (July 8) at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. Bangladesh will be looking to bounce back and level the series, while Afghanistan will aim to maintain their winning momentum.
