Afghanistan player Allah Ghazanfar was a complete destroyer, causing the unfortunate collapse of Bangladesh’s batting in dramatic fashion, in the first match of the ongoing three-match ODI series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah on November 6 .
The Bangladesh cricket team collapsed dramatically in the first ODI against Afghanistan, despite a good start, Sharjah.
Chasing the modest target of 236 runs, the Tigers looked comfortable at 120/2 at the halfway mark, but their batting line-up quickly fell apart, losing the last 8 wickets for just 23 runs in just 8.4 overs in Sharjah.
Allah Ghazanfar’s spinning masterclass destroys Bangladesh in first ODI
The Bangladesh team went from 120/2 to 143 and finally suffered a massive 92-run defeat against Afghanistan in the first ODI at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Allah Ghazanfar was the main destroyer and led the charge with the ball, while his teammates also caused significant damage in the match.
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It all started when Mohammad Nabi broke the strong 55-run partnership between Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (37) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (28). After the departure of the Bangladesh captain, things quickly went downhill for the Tigers in the first ODI.
Before this setback, Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai broke that 53-run partnership between Saumya Sarkar (33) and Shanto.
Meanwhile, Allah Ghazanfar dealt a crucial blow early by dismissing Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan for three runs and then sent Mehidy Hasan back to the pavilion before Rashid Khan removed Mahmudullah for just 2 runs.
Allah Ghazanfar records career-best numbers in first ODI
And then the real show began, as Allah Ghazanfar tore through the Bangladesh batting line-up, taking three quick wickets to claim his first five-wicket haul in ODIs. Ghazanfar claimed three key wickets in a thrilling finish. First, he stumped Mushfiqur Rahim (1) with a clever carrom ball that deflected just in time, leaving Ikram Alikhil with an easy defeat.
Ghazanfar celebrated the crucial wicket with a mini “Yay!” Rishad Hossain (1) was then caught with LBW despite a review when a sharply deflecting Ghazanfar delivery clipped the top of the stumps.
Allah Ghazanfar followed that with another beauty to bowl Taskin Ahmed for a duck, spinning through the gap to hit the stump and complete his first five-wicket haul in ODI cricket.
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The Afghan player did not end there as he stopped a carrom ball, and when Shoriful Islam (1) tried to sweep too early, the ball went off stump. With this wicket, Ghazanfar sealed a 92-run victory for Afghanistan, concluding the game with remarkable figures of 6/26. Ghazanfar was named Man of the Match for the best figures of his career.
Watch Ghazanfar destroy Bangladesh’s batting line-up:
BANGLADESH FROM 132/3 TO 143/10. 🤯👌pic.twitter.com/4jsJ8fQ6af
-Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 6, 2024
Afghanistan beat East Pakistan 🤣#AFGvsBAN pic.twitter.com/UNGZ9K31mX
— 😎 (@Zimbu12_) November 7, 2024
Afghanistan may have won the first ODI and taken a 1-0 lead in the ongoing three-match ODI series, but their fielding was shaky, with several dropped catches.
However, the Afghanistan spinners’ impressive bowling guided them to a commanding victory over the Tigers in Sharjah.
The second ODI is scheduled for November 9 at the same venue in Sharjah, followed by the third and final game on November 11.