In a rain-marred One Day International (ODI) series opener at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram, Afghanistan thrashed Bangladesh by 17 runs through the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.
Afghanistan's spinners played a pivotal role in restricting Bangladesh to a modest score, and when rain stopped play, Afghanistan was ahead of the DLS par score, leading to their victory.
The match saw intermittent rain interruptions, which eventually led to a reduction in overs. Bangladesh batted first in a game that was curtailed to 43 overs. They managed to post a score of 169-9. According to the DLS method, Afghanistan's revised target was set at 164 runs in 43 overs.
During Afghanistan’s chase, the rain resumed when they were at 83-2 in 21.4 overs. Being 17 runs ahead on the DLS par score, Afghanistan was declared the winner as the rain showed no signs of letting up.
Ibrahim Zadran’s unbeaten 41 runs from 58 balls, including five boundaries, was essential in providing a solid start for Afghanistan. He and Rahmanullah Gurbaz put on a 54-run partnership for the first wicket. Shakib Al Hasan ended this partnership by dismissing Gurbaz for 22, and later Taskin Ahmed dismissed Rahman Shah for 8. Before the rain ended play, Afghanistan's captain Hashmatullah Shahidi was batting alongside Zadran.
Towhid Hridoy stood out in Bangladesh’s batting lineup, scoring 51 runs off 69 balls, including three boundaries. Liton Das also contributed with 26 runs. The rest of the batsmen failed to make a significant impact, primarily due to Afghanistan’s excellent bowling performance.
Afghanistan’s bowlers were instrumental in keeping Bangladesh's score in check. Fazalhaq Farooqi was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-24. Spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman both played vital roles, taking two wickets each and conceding only 21 and 23 runs, respectively in their nine-over spells.
Afghan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi's early breakthrough, dismissing Bangladesh's captain Tamim Iqbal, set the tone for Afghanistan. The introduction of spinners Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman further tightened the screws on Bangladesh. The rain interruptions impacted Bangladesh's momentum, particularly during the middle overs.
Afghanistan displayed a disciplined bowling performance and a steady start in their batting, ultimately leading them to victory in the rain-affected match. Both teams will be looking to make necessary adjustments heading into the next match of the three-game series.
BDST: 0915 HRS, JULY 06, 2023
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