Bangladesh’s batting frailties resurfaced on Wednesday as they slumped to a five-wicket defeat against Afghanistan in the opening ODI of the three-match series at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Bangladesh failed to build meaningful partnerships and were bowled out for 221 in 48.5 overs. Stand-in skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz fought hard with a composed 60, but lacked support from the rest of the batting order. The Tigers’ inability to convert starts into big scores once again left them short of a competitive total.
Despite the modest target, Bangladesh’s bowlers showed grit. Left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam and Mehidy himself applied pressure in the middle overs, slowing Afghanistan’s scoring rate and briefly raising hopes of a turnaround. Their disciplined spells kept the Afghan batters in check and forced mistakes.
However, Afghanistan’s middle order held firm. Azmatullah Omarzai and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi combined for a steady, calculated partnership that blunted Bangladesh’s spin threat. Their measured counter-attack guided Afghanistan home in 47.1 overs, finishing at 225/5.
The result highlighted a familiar pattern for Bangladesh: commendable bowling efforts undermined by fragile batting. While the spinners earned praise for their control and resilience, the lack of depth and consistency in the batting lineup remains a major concern ahead of the remaining matches in the series.
With Afghanistan now 1-0 up, Bangladesh will need to regroup quickly, especially with their batting unit under increasing scrutiny in pressure situations.
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