Afghanistan vs Bangladesh Gurbaz ton, Omarzai fifty and four-for win the series for Afghanistan

Afghanistan vs Bangladesh

Afghanistan vs Bangladesh In the recent ODI match in Sharjah, Afghanistan secured a thrilling victory over Bangladesh, chasing down a target of 245 to win by five wickets. Mahmudullah’s valiant 98 for Bangladesh went in vain, as Afghanistan achieved their target thanks to a century from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and an impressive all-round performance from Azmatullah Omarzai.

Match Summary:

• Bangladesh Innings: Afghanistan vs Bangladesh posted 244 for 8, with Mahmudullah scoring 98 off 96 balls, supported by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who made a patient 66. Their 145-run partnership for the fifth wicket lifted Bangladesh after a shaky start, where they lost four wickets for 19 runs in a short span. Azmatullah Omarzai was the standout bowler for Afghanistan, taking 4 wickets for 37 runs.
• Afghanistan Innings: Afghanistan’s chase was powered by Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 101 off 122 balls. Before this match, Gurbaz had a modest average of 16.73 in run chases, but here he delivered a fantastic innings with 42 runs coming from sixes alone. His steady play and key shots allowed Afghanistan to stay in control, building a vital 100-run partnership with Omarzai for the fourth wicket.

Stubbs channels his nerves to continue breakout run

When Gurbaz fell in the 39th over, followed by Gulbadin Naib in the 41st, Bangladesh sensed an opportunity, with Afghanistan still needing 57 runs off 58 balls. However, Omarzai (70* off 77 balls) and Mohammad Nabi (34* off 23 balls) held their nerve to guide Afghanistan home. Omarzai’s powerful hitting, including five sixes, brought Afghanistan the win, with his final six over long-on sealing the match.

Key Highlights:

• This was Afghanistan’s first successful chase of the series, following two matches where lower totals of 235 and 252 were defended.
• Gurbaz reached his eighth ODI century, making him the second-youngest player to achieve this milestone.
• Omarzai’s all-round performance earned him the Player-of-the-Match award, with 4 wickets in addition to his crucial 70 not out.

This win marked Afghanistan’s third consecutive series victory, showcasing their growing strength and consistency in ODI cricket lisalavoie.com.