Afghanistan showcased their bowling brilliance once again as they defeated Bangladesh by 81 runs in the second ODI played yesterday in Abu Dhabi, sealing the three-match series 2–0 with one game still remaining.
Winning the toss, Afghan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi opted to bat first. However, Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling unit kept things tight, bowling Afghanistan out for 190 runs.
While wickets kept tumbling at one end, Ibrahim Zadran stood firm with a fighting knock of 95 runs, narrowly missing out on a well-deserved century. The innings suffered a blow when Rahmat Shah retired hurt due to a leg injury, adding pressure to the Afghan middle order.
Interestingly, this total was recorded as one of the lowest first-innings scores in an ODI at the Abu Dhabi venue.
Defending a modest target of 191, Afghanistan’s bowlers turned the game around spectacularly. Rashid Khan delivered a masterclass in spin bowling, tearing through the Bangladeshi batting lineup with figures of 5 for 17. His unplayable deliveries left Bangladesh in disarray, as they were bundled out for 109 runs.
All-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai also shone with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 27 runs, ensuring Bangladesh never found their footing.
With this dominant performance, Afghanistan secured the ODI series 2–0, proving once again that they are a rising powerhouse in world cricket.
