Opener Ibrahim Zadran went 41 times as Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh by 17 runs on the DLS method in a rain-shortened first one-day international in Chittagong on Wednesday. Rain prevented further play at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium after Afghanistan went 83-2 in 21.4 overs, chasing a target of 164 runs in 43 overs.
Left arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi secured the win 3-24 as Afghanistan limited Bangladesh to 169-9 before the visitors got a revised goal in heavily overcast conditions. Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 54 runs in the opening standings to deny Bangladesh an early breakthrough.
Shakib Al Hasan removed Gumbaz for 22, before Taskin had Ahmed Rahmat Shah sacked for eight to slow Afghanistan’s progress. Afghanistan again got an adjusted target of 111 runs in 29 overs after rain stopped play for the third time.
However, another downpour led the match officials to call off the match and declare Afghanistan the winner, as they needed 67 runs to win by the DLS method at that stage. Leg spinner Rashid Khan and off spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman previously claimed 2-21 and 2-23 respectively, complementing Farooqi, keeping Bangladesh in check after rain interrupted their innings twice.
Rookie batsman Towhid Hridoy top-scored with 51 for Bangladesh, who have struggled for momentum since Afghan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to bowl first. The hosts were 84-3 in 15.1 overs as rain stopped play for the first time, with the top three batsmen – Tamim Iqbal (13), Liton Das (26) and Najmul Hossain (12) – all dismissed.
Azmatullah Omarzai removed Shakib for 15 on resumption, and on attack Rashid took two quick wickets to derail the home side.
Rashid bowled Mushfiqur Rahim between the legs for one and dismissed Afif Hossain leg-before for four three overs later.
Farooqi held Mehidy Hasan Miraz leg-before for five before rain delayed play again as Bangladesh struggled 144-7 from 34.3 overs.
Towhid completed his third fifty in seven ODIs after play resumed, but then fell to Farooqi in the same over. Afghanistan, who lost their previous two ODI series in Bangladesh, can take an unassailable lead in the three-match series at the same venue on Saturday.
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