AfghanAtalan have put on a remarkable all-round performance to beat Bangladesh by 92 runs in the first match and take a 1-0 lead in the Etisalat Cup, three-match ODI series, powered by Walton.
Earlier in the afternoon, Afghanistan opted to bat first but didn’t start well as they were reduced to 35/4 and then to 71/5 in 20 overs.
Mohammad Nabi came in at No. 7 and pulled Afghanistan out of trouble by sharing a match-turning 104-run partnership for the 6th wicket the skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi before the skipper was dismissed after a well-made 52.
Mohammad Nabi brought up his 17th half-century as well as reached the 3500-run milestone in the format on his way to a magnificent 84-run knock to help Afghanistan post 235/10 runs on the board in the first inning.
Nangyal Kharoti struck 2 boundaries and a six on his way to 27* unbeaten runs and provided an important finishing touch to the Afghanistan inning.
In reply, the visitors started off well by reaching the 100-run mark inside the first 20 overs.
They were going nicely at 120/2 at the halfway stage in the 2nd inning, then suddenly things turned on their head as they collapsed remarkably to lose their last 8 wickets for the next 23 runs inside 9 overs to be bundled out for 143 runs and fell short of the target by 92 runs.
AM Ghazanfar delivered a phenomenal bowling performance for Afghanistan and claimed his career-best figures of 6/26 to earn the Player of the Match award.
Alongside him, Rashid Khan picked 2/28, whereas Azmatullah Omarzai (1/16) and Mohammad Nabi (1/23) bagged one wicket each to help Afghanistan start the series off with a big win. With the first game already in the bag, the Afghanistan National Cricket Team will lock horns against the same opposition in the 2nd ODI after a two-day break on Saturday, November 09 in Sharjah.