Tigers stay alive with 68-run victory in second ODI

Bangladesh stayed alive in the three-match ODI series as they beat Afghanistan in the second ODI by 68 runs at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Defending 253, Bangladesh bundled Afghanistan out for 184 to make the three-match ODI series 1-1 with the third and final ODI slated for Monday.

Bangladesh had an early breakthrough thanks to Taskin Ahmed as he sent Rahmanullah Gurbaz back to the pavilion after an expensive first over.

The visitors kept the pressure on Afghanistan early in their chase and didn’t let them get away with easy runs.

Sediqullah Atal and Rahmat Shah built a 52-run partnership before Nasum Ahmed picked up the wicket of Atal on the very first delivery on his return to international cricket almost after a year. It was a moment of magic from Mehidy Hasan as he caught a blinder at backward square leg.

Runs dried out in the following overs as Nasum along with Mahmudullah and Mehidy Hasan bowled tight to see the asking run rate going high after each over.

But Rahmat Shah along with skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi were going steady in their 38-run partnership before Mustafizur Rahman came into the attack to send the Afghan skipper back to the pavilion.

The following few overs saw Afghanistan lose their way a bit, along with a double-wicket 30th over from Nasum which saw Rahmat, who did all the hard work for 52, getting run out due to a terrible mix up in the middle.

Afghanistan were reduced to 119/5 after 30 overs, still needing 134 to win from the remaining 20 overs at that point.

Mohammad Nabi and Gulbadin Naib put up a brief resistance before they both departed in back-to-back overs to put the hosts in more trouble.

Mehidy then dismissed Nangeyalia Kharote in the wicket-maiden 42nd over to make the victory just a matter of time as the hosts were eight down at that point.

Rashid Khan departed for 14 trying to slog one over long on before the hosts were eventually bundled out for 184.

For Bangladesh, Nasum picked up three wickets while Mehidy and Mustafizur bagged a brace each. Shoriful Islam and Taskin picked up a wicket each.

Earlier, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain and debutant Jaker Ali propelled the Tigers to 252/7 after their 50 overs.

Najmul hit the only fifty for Bangladesh. He made 76 with six fours and one six before getting dismissed by Nangeyalia.

Jaker scored 37 off 27 with one four and three sixes. He got a place in the team in the absence of Mushfiqur Rahim, who suffered a blow on his finger in the first match in which Bangladesh lost 92 runs. Nasum scored a valuable 25.

For Afghanistan, Nangeyalia scalped three wickets, while Rashid and AM Ghazanfar took two wickets each.