Afghanistan 161 for 3 (Rahmat 67, Shahidi 36, Taskin 2-36) beat Bangladesh 160 (Emon 70, Saif 41, Rashid 4-31, Ahmadzai 2-21) by seven wickets
Afghanistan delivered a commanding performance to defeat Bangladesh by seven wickets, securing their place in the upcoming tri-series final against Zimbabwe.
Bangladesh’s modest total of 160 proved insufficient as Afghanistan chased it down comfortably in just 35.3 overs.
This victory marks Afghanistan’s fifth consecutive ODI win over Bangladesh, with captain Rahmat Shah anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 67.
The foundation for the win was laid by Afghanistan’s bowlers. Rashid Khan claimed another four-wicket haul, while seamers Yamin Ahmadzai and Azmatullah Omarzai dismantled Bangladesh’s top order, reducing them to 28 for four by the seventh over. Bangladesh was eventually bowled out for 160, with both Ahmadzai and Omarzai taking two wickets each, supported by Mohammad Nabi and Bilal Sami who claimed one wicket apiece.
Ahmadzai broke the deadlock early, dismissing Tanzid Hasan caught behind in the second over. Soumya Sarkar followed shortly after, edging a drive into the stumps.
Omarzai then struck twice in his opening over, first getting Najmul Hossain Shanto caught behind before taking a one-handed return catch to dismiss Towhid Hridoy, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 28 for four.
Saif Hassan, who survived the early collapse, attempted to rebuild alongside Parvez Hossain Emon. Hassan showcased some elegant cover drives while Emon proved effective against the spinners, hitting three boundaries and clearing the ropes with a pull six off Bilal Sami.
Emon reached his second ODI half-century but the partnership ended when Saif top-edged an off-break from Nabi, gifting a simple catch to cover. Bangladesh’s tail collapsed rapidly under Rashid’s onslaught, with the leg-spinner removing Shoriful, Emon, Al Islam, and Mustafizur Rahman. Emon’s 70 off 96 balls included five fours and two sixes before he was trapped lbw by Rashid’s dangerous slider.
Taskin Ahmed’s two wides complicated matters for Afghanistan, but he soon made amends with a well-directed inswinger that bowled Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the third over. Sediqullah Atal was also dismissed by Taskin, who responded to the Bangladesh coach’s bowling change by clean-bowling the left-hander with a beautifully delivered inswinger.
Parvez Hossain Emon celebrates his fifty•ACB
Afghanistan’s batting lineup steadied with openers Rahmat Shah and Ibrahim Zadran taking guard initially. Rahmat broke the shackles by cutting Mahmudul Hasan for four and clearing mid-off in subsequent overs. The captain struck consecutive boundaries off Mustafizur in the 18th over, with Zadran adding his own four-pull shot.
Mustafizur ended Zadran’s innings for 34, taking a fine catch at mid-on off a top-edged slower ball. The third wicket partnership between Zadran and Rahmat contributed 56 runs, after which Rahmat and Hashmatullah Shahidi assumed control of the remaining chase.
Rahmat reached his 34th ODI half-century early in the final stretch, with Shahidi accelerating the scoring rate. The decisive moment came when Rahmat sealed the victory with a single in the 28th over, eliminating Bangladesh from the competition. Shahidi followed with boundaries off Taskin and Mahmudul Islam in the closing overs.
Unbeaten on 67 off 90 deliveries with five fours, Rahmat shared an unbroken 66-run stand with Shahidi (36 off 54) to guide Afghanistan to their target with six wickets remaining.
Mohammad Isam is Cricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
