Gurbaz-Zadran record stand heps Afghanistan seal series

Afghanistan 331 for 9 (Gurbaz 145, Zadran 100, Shakib 2-50) beat Bangladesh Bangladesh 189 for 9 (Mushfiqur 69, Farooqi 3-25, Mujeeb 3-40) by 142 runs

Gurbaz and Zadran also put on Afghanistan’s highest ODI partnership for any wicket, beating the 218 put on by Karim Sadiq and Mohammad Shahzad for the second wicket against Scotland in 2010. Bangladesh’s bowlers did mount a fightback in the last 14 overs of the Afghanistan innings, taking nine wickets for 75 runs. But it was never enough after the big opening stand.

Gurbaz and Zadran teed off from the word go, hitting eight boundaries in the first Powerplay. This included Gurbaz’s first sixes, off Mustafizur Rahman, a straight six over the bowler’s head, and a powerful pull, both in the eighth over. Zadran survived a tough chance in the following over when Towhid Hridoy couldn’t latch on to a tough chance running in from long-off.

Another spate of eight boundaries in the next ten overs followed, as the power hitting got even more spectacular. Gurbaz hoisted Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz for three sixes during this phase. Their 100-run partnership came up in the 15th over; it was the first opening century stand against Bangladesh since the 2019 World Cup.

Gurbaz pressed ahead with the big-hitting as he raced to his fourth ODI century. He got it with a single off Shakib, having already struck six of his eight sixes, and eight boundaries in the run-a-ball century. It was a long celebration from the Afghanistan wicketkeeper as he soaked up the applause of an enthralled stadium.

Zadran got struck with his first six around the same time, as the pair ramped up the pressure on the Bangladesh bowlers. From the 31st over till Gurbaz got out, the pair added 69 runs in the next six overs. Gurbaz cracked Mustafizur for a four and a six, before blazing four boundaries in an Ebadot Hossain over. Gurbaz’s last six came off Najmul Hossain Shanto, before he fell to Shakib in the 37th over.

The first wicket triggered Afghanistan into a batting collapse as the subsequent batters only tried big hits. Rahmat Shah, despite surviving an easy run out when Mushfiqur crashed into the stumps before completing the run-out, pulled one to Mustafizur Rahman at fine-leg, off Ebadot.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz got captain Hashmatullah Shahidi bowled for two in the following over, before he removed Najibullah Zadran caught at long-on in the 44th over. Ibrahim Zadran got out shortly after reaching his century, caught top edging a pull off Mustafizur Rahman. Shakib had Rashid Khan stumped for six, before the tail caved, unable to support Mohammad Nabi who was stranded on an unbeaten 25 off 15 balls.

Mustafizur, Mehidy and Shakib pulled things back really well, conceding just 41 runs in nine overs out of the last 14 overs. They also picked two wickets each. Hasan Mahmud also took two wickets while Ebadot picked up one scalp.

Bangladesh’s batters hardly made any headway in that late momentum grab by their bowlers. Fazalhaq Farooqi removed both openers Litton Das and Mohammad Naim in the first nine overs. The left-arm quick cramped Litton in the fifth over, as the Bangladesh captain top edged a pull shot to Nabi at short midwicket. Naim played on to his stumps against a Farooqi short ball.

In between these two wickets, Mujeeb bowled the delivery of the ODI series; the 100kph delivery zeroing on middle-stump before sharply moving to hit Shanto’s off-stump.

A brief resistance followed but Rashid ended Bangladesh’s hopes with two beautiful googlies. The first was a peach that nipped through Towhid Hridoy’s forward prod. He misread the hand, ending up bowled for 16. Afif got a googly first ball, edging it to Nabi at slip.

In between these two wickets, Nabi accounted for Shakib’s wicket in the 18th over. The allrounder missed an arm ball that swung into him, having made 25 off 29 balls.

Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy added 87 runs for the seventh wicket, but once they were separated in the 37th over, the Bangladesh tail caved in quickly. Mushfiqur was the last wicket to fall, when he pulled a catch to give Farooqi his third wicket, and Afghanistan the series.