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Bangladesh have managed to topple some top-ranked teams in their own backyard, especially in the ODI format. Therefore, nobody gave Afghanistan too much of a chance when they came to play a three-match ODI series in Bangladesh. However, the visitors managed to seal the series with convincing wins in the first two ODIs.
The third ODI was played at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on July 11, Tuesday. Afghanistan were aiming for a whitewash while their opponents wanted to salvage some pride. After winning the toss, Afghanistan chose to bat first.
However, they were in trouble from the word ‘Go’ as Shoriful Islam wreaked havoc with the new ball. In-form openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran were dismissed for six and one, respectively. No Afghan batter managed to put up a fight except the young Azmatullah Omarzai. He scored a defiant 71-ball 56 to delay the inevitable. The visitors were eventually dismissed for 126 in 45.2 overs.
Shoriful finished with sensational figures of 4/21 while Taskin Ahmed and Taijul Islam picked two wickets each. Experienced campaigners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Bangladesh got off to a shaky start as they lost Mohammad Naim in the third over. Najmul Hossain Shanto also departed in the seventh over. From 28/2, the experienced duo of Shakib Al Hasan and captain Litton Das stitched a 61-run partnership to take the hosts to the brink. After Shakib departed for a 39-ball 39, Towhid Hridoy joined forces with his skipper and helped Bangladesh secure victory in 23.3 overs with seven wickets to spare. Das remained not out on 53 in 60 balls while Hridoy showed glimpses of his talent during his 19-ball 22. Fazalhaq Farooqi took a couple of wickets for the tourists while the other wicket was taken by Mohammad Nabi.
Shoriful was fittingly awarded Player of the Match while Farooqi, who ended as the highest wicket-taker across the three ODIs, was named Player of the Series.
