The first One-Day International (ODI) of Bangladesh and Afghanistan’s three-match series finished in an unimpressive way, with the visitors winning by 17 runs under the Duckworth and Lewis System after rain interrupted play in Chattogram for the third and final time.
After two rain delays in Bangladesh’s innings, the match was reduced to a 43-over-a-side affair.
Between rain showers, the Afghan bowlers dominated the Bangladesh batters, limiting them to 169-9.
Towhid Hridoy was the only bright spot in Bangladesh’s batting order, scoring 51 off 69 balls.
Afghan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi was the highlight of the bowlers, taking 3-24, while leg-spinner Rashid Khan and off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman each took two wickets to restrict Bangladesh’s middle order.
The visitors were subsequently given a new goal of 164. Afghanistan responded with a cautious but good start led by openers Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Shakib Al Hasan terminated the opening stand, which yielded 54 runs, when he bowled Gurbaz for 22 in the 16th over.
Afghanistan were under some pressure when Taskin Ahmed dismissed Rahmat Shah (eight off 14 balls) shortly after, reducing them to 70-2 in 19.2 overs.
