In a remarkable display of spin bowling, Afghanistan’s Allah Ghazanfar took the cricket world by storm with a sensational 6 for 26, leading his team to a commanding victory over Bangladesh in the first One Day International (ODI). Bangladesh, chasing a solid target of 236 runs, crumbled to 143 all out. In an astounding batting collapse, they lost 7 wickets for a mere 11 runs.
Afghanistan set a competitive total, spearheaded by the experienced Mohammad Nabi who scored a crucial 84 runs, and Hashmatullah Shahidi who contributed a steady 52. This impressive recovery came after a shaky start that saw them reduced to 35 for 4 wickets at one stage.
The mystery spinner Ghazanfar, armed with a deadly carrom ball, initiated the collapse by clean bowling Tanzid Hasan for just 3 runs. This moment marked the beginning of an astonishing downfall for Bangladesh’s batting lineup.
One of the game’s highlights was a brilliant diving catch by Azmatullah Omarzai that sent Mehidy Hasan Miraz back to the pavilion, which notably shifted the momentum in Afghanistan’s favor. As the middle and lower order succumbed to the pressure, the runs dried up, and Bangladesh’s hopes of reaching the target quickly faded.
In a spectacular bowling partnership, Ghazanfar was well-supported by Afghanistan’s spin maestro Rashid Khan. Rashid proved lethal as he clean bowled Mahmudullah and Hridoy in quick succession, showcasing the effectiveness of Afghanistan’s spin attack.
Bangladesh found themselves in a hopeless situation, losing their last seven wickets for just 7 runs. This dramatic collapse was concluded as Mustafizur Rahman fell, clean bowled by Ghazanfar, cementing his place as the star of the match.
Despite decent bowling performances from Mustafizur Rahman, who took 4 for 35, and Taskin Ahmed with 2 for 46, Bangladesh’s bowlers could not match the disciplined and controlled bowling efforts of their Afghan counterparts. The day was undeniably dominated by Afghanistan’s tenacious bowling, which allowed them to defend their total with immense ease and walk away with a resounding 92-run victory.
This match not only highlighted Afghanistan’s growing prowess in international cricket but also heralded the arrival of Allah Ghazanfar as a new spinning sensation capable of turning a game on its head. As Afghanistan celebrates this convincing win, the cricket world will now keenly watch this emerging spinner’s next move in the sport.
