Bangladesh stumbled to a disappointing 92-run defeat against Afghanistan in the opening ODI of their three-match series in Sharjah on Wednesday.
AM Ghazanfar proved to be the wrecker-in-chief for the Bangladeshi side, claiming 6 wickets for a mere 26 runs as the Tigers' batting faltered.
In reply to Afghanistan’s 235, Bangladesh started cautiously. But they kept losing wickets on a regular basis.
Tanzid Hasan was the first man to fall in the fourth over as the first victim of Ghazanfar. In the second wicket stand, Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Soumya Sarkar added 53 runs to recover from earlier damage.
Azmatullah Omarzai broke the stand, removing Soumya for 33 runs. Bangladesh kept control as Shanto and Mehdiy Hasan Miraz added 55 runs in the next wicket.
The stand was broken by Mohammad Nabi, who removed Shanto for 47.
Following that, Mehidy’s dismissal by Ghazanfar triggered the final collapse. From 132 for four, Bangladesh stumbled to 143 all out, losing the last six wickets for 11 runs.
In the 33rd over, Ghazanfar’s six, the bowler bagged three wickets with two in two consecutive deliveries.
He ended up taking six wickets for 26 runs, which is his best in the format so far.
Rashid Khan bagged two wickets, conceding 28 runs in eight overs.
Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bat first, and they posted a competitive total of 235 runs with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Mohammad Nabi hitting a fifty each.
For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman took four wickets a piece— the first time in ODI when two Bangladesh pacers took four wickets each.