From 120/3 to 143/10- Allah Ghazanfar runs riots through Bangladesh as Afghanistan win

Afghanistan's off-spinner Allah Ghazanfar was a complete destroyer, causing Bangladesh's hapless batting collapse in a dramatic fashion, in the ongoing three-match ODI series opener at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah on November 6.

Bangladesh cricket team collapsed dramatically in the first ODI against Afghanistan, despite a strong start, Sharjah.

Chasing the modest target of 236 runs, the Tigers looked comfortable at 120/2 by the halfway point, but their batting line-up quickly shattered in pieces, losing the last 8 wickets for a mere 23 runs within just 8.4 overs in Sharjah.

Allah Ghazanfar's spin masterclass destroys Bangladesh in the first ODI

The Bangladesh team went from 120/2 to 143 all-out and eventually suffered a massive 92-run defeat against Afghanistan in the first ODI at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Allah Ghazanfar was the main destroyer and led the charge with the ball, while his fellow spinners also did significant damage in the match.

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It all started with Mohammad Nabi breaking the solid 55-run partnership between Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto (37) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (28). After the Bangladesh captain's exit, things rapidly turned out worse for the Tigers in the first ODI.

Before this setback, Afghanistan’s medium-pacer Azmatullah Omarzai broke that 53-run partnership between Saumya Sarkar (33) and Shanto.

Meanwhile, Allah Ghazanfar struck a crucial blow at the start by dismissing Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan for three runs and then sent Mehidy Hasan back to the pavilion before Rashid Khan removed Mahmudullah for just 2 runs.

Allah Ghazanfar records career-best figures in the first ODI

And then began the real show, as Allah Ghazanfar steamrolled through Bangladesh’s batting line-up, taking three quick wickets to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs. Ghazanfar claimed three key wickets in a thrilling over. First, he stumped Mushfiqur Rahim (1) with a clever carrom-ball that spun away just in time, leaving Ikram Alikhil with an easy stumping.

Ghazanfar celebrated the crucial wicket with a mini “Siuu!”. Then, Rishad Hossain (1) was trapped LBW despite a review as a sharply drifting Ghazanfar delivery clipped the top of the stumps.

Allah Ghazanfar followed that with another beauty to bowl Taskin Ahmed out for a duck, spinning through the gap to hit off-stump and complete his maiden five-wicket haul in ODI cricket.

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The Afghanistan spinner has not finished there, as he slowed down a carrom-ball, and as Shoriful Islam (1) went for a slog sweep too early, the ball hit off-stump. With this wicket, Ghazanfar sealed a 92-run victory for Afghanistan, wrapping up the game with remarkable figures of 6/26. Ghazanfar was named the Player of the Match for his career-best figures.

Watch how Ghazanfar destroys Bangladesh's batting line-up:

BANGLADESH FROM 132/3 TO 143/10. 🤯👌pic.twitter.com/4jsJ8fQ6af

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 6, 2024

Afghanistan thrashed east pakistan 🤣#AFGvsBAN pic.twitter.com/UNGZ9K31mX

— 𝙕𝙄𝙈𝘽𝙐 😎 (@Zimbu12_) November 7, 2024

Afghanistan might have won the first ODI and took a 1-0 lead in the ongoing three-match ODI series, but their fielding was shaky, with several dropped catches.

However, the Afghanistan spinners' stunning bowling guided them to a commanding win over the Tigers in Sharjah.

The second ODI is scheduled for November 9 at the same venue in Sharjah, followed by the third and final game on November 11