Picture Credit: ICC
The first ODI of the three-match series between Bangladesh and Afghanistan is underway and the visitors are on a roll. After being bowled out for 215, Afghanistan bowlers are breathing fire. They have sent six of the Bangladeshi batters back to the pavilion with 86 runs still needed. The floodgate was opened by Fazalhaq Farooqi who is playing his second ODI.
The left-arm pacer started really well as he got Liton Das on the third delivery of the second over of his spell. The pacer struck once again in the same over as he accounted for the opposition captain with a beautiful delivery. Continuing on his dream spell, Farooqi got another top wicket in the form of Mushfiqur Rahim on the first delivery of his third over of the day. This was another inswinger that did the job for the leftie.
The fourth wicket came for Farooqi in the form of debutant Yasir Ali who was stunned by a peach of a delivery from the left-arm quick. On the last delivery of his third over, Farooqi bowled a length delivery which straightened up after pitching. The batter seemed to miss the line of the ball completely as he tried tucking it for a single. But eventually saw his off-stump going for a toss.
Watch the dismissal here:
With his four wickets in the first spell, Afghanistan managed to reduce the hosts to 18/4 in five overs. Building on the momentum given by Farooqi, Afghanistan made further inroads as they removed Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah in quick successions. This time it was the spin duo of Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan who did the job for Afghans. While Mujeeb got Shakib to chop the ball back on the stumps, Rashid got Mahmudullah caught at slips with a half-tracker.
Afif Hossain-Mehidy Hasan help Bangladesh recover!
Having lost six of their batters within 12 overs, Bangladesh found themselves in all sorts of trouble. However, the duo of Afif Hossain and Mehidy Hasan came to the rescue. Both the batters not only saved a collapse but also keep the scoreboard ticking with timely boundaries. At the time of writing the copy, Hossain had crossed the 50-run mark while Mehidy Hasan was batting on 39. The duo had stitched an 89-run stand in 121 deliveries with Bangladesh needing 82 runs to win.