AFG vs BAN 1st ODI Highlights: Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh by 92 runs in the first ODI of the three-match series at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and opted to bat first in the game. Mohammad Nabi top-scored with 84-run knock off 79 balls while Shahidi contributed with a slow 52-run innings as Afganistan posted 235 all out. Other batters from the side failed to play promising knocks. For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman scalped four wickets each. The chasing team was bowled out for 143 runs, thanks to Afghanistan's right-arm off-break bowler Allah Ghazanfar's 6 for 26. (Scorecard)
AFG vs BAN 1st ODI Highlights
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That’s it from this game then! The hosts take a 1-0 lead in the series. Two more games to go. The second one will be played on the 9th of this month again at Sharjah. That game will begin at 10 am GMT but you can join us an hour in advance for the build up. Till then, take care and goodbye!
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Hashmatullah Shahidi, the captain of Afghanistan says that he is quite happy about the performance and is looking forward to the next game. Adds that they did believe they could defend 235 runs and given how Nabi played, they looked to get around 220 runs and then the bowlers did an amazing job. On AM Ghazanfar, he says that he is a special talent and a good kid and in the second spell, he was just on the money. On Gurbaz's injury, he mentions that thankfully they have backups and good young cricketers and it is unfortunate that Ibrahim and Mujeeb aren't there but hopefully, Gurbaz recovers for the next game.
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Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh's captain, says his team started well in the first innings in the first couple of overs but when Nabi came, his team got rattled out a little bit. Batting was the primary reason for this loss. His wicket was the main difference in this match because at least one batsman has to out bat out throughout the innings and there is none from him who could have done. He praises Nabi and Rashid Khan where they bowled beautifully and Afghanistan kept really tight from the start. He congratulates Afghanistan for winning this match and he will come back stronger in the next match.
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AM Ghazanfar has been adjudged the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant six-wicket haul.
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The presentation ceremony...
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Earlier in the day, after being asked to field first, Bangladesh’s pacers ran through the top order of Afghanistan but Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi and the lower order did very well to get them to a competitive score which in the end proved to be enough by a big margin.
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For the hosts, it was the spinners who did the trick. AM Ghazanfar continued a fine start to his career with a six-fer. He was well supported by Rashid Khan and also Mohammad Nabi who got the main wicket of Najmul Hossain Shanto. Let me remind you, Afghanistan were guilty of dropping quite a few chances but still came out on top easily.
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That was a collapse of gigantic proportions! At one stage, Bangladesh were cruising. They lost a wicket early but then it was Soumya Sarkar and Najmul Hossain Shanto who steadied things. Shanto then continued the good work with Mehidy Hasan but once he fell, it was a procession. The lower order surrendered and it ended up being a big defeat for the visitors and their wait for a first ODI win in Sharjah continues, 29 years and counting.
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34.3WAM Ghazanfar to Shoriful Islam
OUT! BOWLED'EM! AM Ghazanfar deservedly wraps things up and Afghanistan come back from the brink to snatch a comfortable win. This is nicely tossed up, a tad full and around off, it is the carrom ball yet again. This one pitches and turns in, Shoriful Islam goes down on one knee looking for the big slog but misses and the ball crashes into the stumps. Ghaznafar finishes off with 6 wickets and Afghanistan win by 92 runs.
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34.20AM Ghazanfar to Shoriful Islam
Oh, Shoriful Islam looked to send that one into orbit! Slows it up a bit and tosses it on off, Shoriful with a big slog across the line but only manages an inside edge onto the pads.
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34.11AM Ghazanfar to Mustafizur Rahman
No hat-trick for AM Ghazanfar! Tossed up around off, a bit too full, Mustafizur Rahman looks to drive but gets it off the inner edge towards square leg for one.
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33.60Rashid Khan to Shoriful Islam
Tossed up full on middle and leg, Shoriful Islam takes the front leg out and flicks it towards mid-wicket.
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33.51Rashid Khan to Mustafizur Rahman
Flatter delivery outside off, Mustafizur Rahman makes room to cut but gets an under edge down to short third for a single.
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33.41Rashid Khan to Shoriful Islam
Dragged down over middle and leg, Shoriful Islam stands tall and launches it down to long on but doesn't time it well at all. Just a single then.
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33.31Rashid Khan to Mustafizur Rahman
A tad bit short and outside off, Mustafizur Rahman makes room and cuts it through point for a single.
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Mustafizur Rahman is the last man in for Bangladesh.
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33.2WRashid Khan to Towhid Hridoy
OUT! TIMBER! That should be the game if it wasn't obvious before! This is tosssed up outside off. It's the googly. It spins back in. Hridoy looks to play the slog sweep but misses and it hits the stumps.
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33.10Rashid Khan to Towhid Hridoy
On middle. Defended.
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33.11 wdRashid Khan to Towhid Hridoy
Snort and down the leg side. Hridoy looks to pull but misses.
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Shoriful Islam is the new batter in.