Latest News

Gurbaz, Zadran tons power Afghanistan to historic win

Published

3 years ago

2023/07/9

Priyan

Afghanistan's centurions put on a massive 256-run opening stand (pic Agencies)

Riding on a big batting effort followed by an all-round bowling show, Afghanistan took an unassailable 2-0 series lead over Bangladesh, thus registering their first ever ODI series win over them in the format. Afghanistan’s massive 142-run margin in the second ODI in Chattogram was their third biggest victory margin in the format in terms of runs.

The platform for the impressive win was set up pretty early in the game, when Afghanistan racked up an impressive total of 331/9, their third-highest ODI total, after being put in to bat. Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (145 off 125) and Ibrahim Zadran (100 off 119) raised contrasting hundreds but formed two halves of a massive 256-run opening stand, the highest ever for Afghanistan. The effort set them up for a score in excess of 350 but Bangladesh made a strong comeback in the closing overs to keep their target down to only 332, which admittedly looked achievable at the halfway mark but one that Afghanistan’s new-ball bowlers put paid to pretty early in the chase.

For the visitors, it all started with a good powerplay upfront which saw the total an effortless 67 runs in the first 10 overs. Both batters scored more freely thereafter, with Gurbaz bringing up his 48-ball fifty by launching Shakib Al Hasan for a six over deep square leg. He reached his century, his third in ODIs, off 100 balls as Bangladesh looked out of clues to dislodge the opening stand.

It took a flat darter from Shakib to dismiss Gurbaz and put an end to the mammoth stand but not before the batter had smashed eight sixes and raised his highest ODI score. This, though, proved to the point from whereon Bangladesh made a strong return. Only 75 runs came in the last 14 overs as the bowlers kept chipping in with wickets. After Gurbaz fell, Ebadot Hossain followed up with the wicket Rahmat Shah in the next over and Mehidy Hasan then bowled Hashmatullah Shahidi in the over after. Regular wickets kept Afghanistan from getting away in the death overs even as Zadran brought up his fourth ODI hundred off 118 balls.

Zadran fell right after his milestone to Mustafzur Rahman who also picked up Azmatullah Omarzai later in the innings. Mohammad Nabi’s cameo of 25* off 15 took Afghanistan in excess of 330, a total that proved more than enough on the night.

Out to defend what felt a par target, Afghanistan got their lines and lengths right from the word go. Litton Das kicked off the chase with a couple of boundaries, even overturned an on-field lbw call but eventually fell to a short ball from Fazalhaq Farooqi. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, having kept things tight at the other end, then bowled Najmul Hossain Shanto before Farooqi added the wicket of Mohammad Naim, wrapping up a delightful powerplay for the visitors.

That’s when Rashid Khan joined the party, getting rid of Towhid Hridoy in his first over and then Afif Hossain in his next. Sandwiched between those two wickets was Mohammad Nabi’s lbw of Shakib, a crucial moment in the game.

The target looked way off from 72/6 but an 87-run stand between Mushfiqur Rahim and Mehidy kept Afghanistan waiting. Mujeeb returned to pick Mehidy and break that stand, and added the wicket of Hasan Mahmud as Bangladesh went on to be bowled out for 189 inside 44 overs. Mujeeb and Fazalhaq finished with six wickets between them as Afghanistan secured a memorable win.

Brief Scores:

Afghanistan 331/9 in 50 overs (Gurbaz 145, Zadran 100; Shakib 2-50) beat Bangladesh 189 all out in 43.2 overs (Mushfiqur 69; Farooqi 3-22, Mujeeb 3-40) by 142 runs

All News Advertisement

Up Next

Georgia Wareham provides star turn for Australia as Meg Lanning makes light work of chase

Don't Miss

Motie takes 13-for; West Indies clinch series

Click to comment

Latest News

Flood warning issued to the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara

Published

10 hours ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

Due to heavy rainfall received in the upper catchment areas of the Mahaweli River over the past few hours, there is a risk of minor flooding in the low-lying areas surrounding the Mahaweli River within the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Ganga Ihala Korale, Udapalatha, Doluwa, Udunuwara, Yatinuwara, Gangawata Korale, Harispattuwa, and Pathadumbara.Residents living in the above mentioned areas and motorists using roads passing through these areas are urged to exercise extreme caution and remain highly vigilant regarding the prevailing situation.

Furthermore, residents living in close proximity to the Mahaweli River in these areas are advised to remain highly alert to the situation and take all necessary precautions to protect themselves from any potential flooding.The relevant disaster management authorities are requested to take all necessary measures in response to this situation.

Latest News

Landslide Red Alerts issued to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya

Published

10 hours ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

The National Building Research Organisation [NBRO] has issued landslide Red Alerts to the districts of Kandy, Kegalle and Nuwara Eliya effective from 14:00 hrs on 20.09.2026 To 14:00 hrs on 21.09.2026

Accordingly,
LEVEL III [RED] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Pasbage Korale in the Kandy district, Dehiowita, Aranayake, Deraniyagala, Mawanella and Yatiyanthota in the Kegalle district and Kothmale West, Kotmale East, Ambagamuwa and Norwood in the Nuwara Eliya district

LEVEL II [AMBER] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Padukka in the Colombo district, Nagoda, Thawalama and Neluwa in the Galle district, Bulathsinhala, Palindanuwara, Walallawita and Agalawatta in the Kalutara district, Ganga Ihala Korale in the Kandy district, Bulathkohupitiya and Kegalle in the Kegalle district, Akuressa and Pitabeddara in the Matara district, Thalawakele in the Nuwara Eliya district and Pelmadulla, Ratnapura, Ayagama, Kuruwita and Ratnapura in the Ratnapura district.

LEVEL I [YELLOW] Land Slide early warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Niyagama and Baddegama in the Galle district, Mirigama in the Gampaha district, Ingiriya in the Kalutara district, Udapalatha and Yatinuwara in the Kandy district, Galigamuwa, Warakapola and Ruwanwella in the Kegalle district, Kotapola, Pasgoda and Athuraliya in the Matara district, and Eheliyagoda, Kalawana and Elapatha in the Ratnapura district.

Latest News

Shafali dazzles with 49-ball unbeaten 100 and India march into Asian Games final

Published

10 hours ago

2026/09/20

Priyan

Shafali Verma raises her bat after scoring her maiden ton in white-ball internationals [BCCI]

A 49-ball unbeaten hundred from Shafali Verma and three-wicket hauls apiece for Nandani Sharma and Deeoti Sharma helped India march into the final of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

Batting first in Nisshin against Bangladesh, India posted 195 for 4, with Shafali bringing up her maiden white-ball international hundred off the final ball of the innings. She pummelled nine sixes and three fours in an innings that left Bangladesh needing a record chase to reach the final.

Smriti Mandhana gave India a rapid start with a 19-ball 37, during which she became the leading run-scorer in women’s T20Is, while Harmanpreet Kaur found some form with a 33-ball 40 from No. 4.

India’s innings began with a 36-ball opening stand of 72, with Shafali setting the pace by smashing 34 off her first 17 deliveries, while Mandhana initially played second fiddle before gaining pace. G Kamalini, at No. 3, failed to make use of another opportunity, while Richa Ghosh made only two. Harmanpreet started sluggishly, as she has tended to in the recent past, but overcame those early struggles to land some lusty blows towards the end of the innings. She added 94 off 55 balls with Shafali for the third wicket.

Bangladesh never seriously threatened the target. Dilara Akter made 27 at the top of the order, but opening partner Juairiya Ferdous was dismissed for a duck and Bangladesh’s Nos. 3 to 5 were unable to get going. Sultana Khatun, batting at No. 9, was their second-highest scorer with just 12.

Nandani got the first wicket in the second over after which fellow new-ball bowler Kranti Gaud delivered a second blow in the third over. Shree Charani then sent Nigar Sultana back in the final over of the powerplay to leave Bangladesh at 38 for 3.

There was no way in as Bangladesh failed to get any partnership going and a double-wicket 11th over from Nandani exposed the tail. Deepti then trapped Marufa Akter lbw and had Sanjida Akter holing out in the 16th over to complete the resounding win.

India will now face Sri Lanka in the gold-medal match, a repeat of the final from 2023. Bangladesh will meet Pakistan for the bronze-medal fixture.

Scores:
India Women 195 for 4 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 37, Shafali Verma 100*, Harmanpreet Kaur 40: Marufa Akter 1-43, Sanjida Akter Meghla 1-25, Rabeya Khan 1-35, Nahida Akter 1-45) beat Bangladesh Women 81 in 15.4 overs (Dilara Akter 27, Sharmin Akhter 10, Sultana Khatun 12*; Kranti Gaud 1-20, Nandani Sharma 3-25. Shree Charani 2-07, Shreyanka Patil 1-22, Deepti Sharma 3-07) by 114 runs

[Cricinfo]