The third and final ODI of the Bangladesh vs Afghanistan series got underway on Tuesday, July 11 at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram. Afghanistan came into the game having taken an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the series. On the other hand, Bangladesh were desperate to avoid an embarrassing whitewash. Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to bat first with the hope to replicate their scintillating batting performance from the second ODI.
However, all their hopes were crushed by Shoriful Islam who struck for his team early and got rid of last game’s centurion Ibrahim Zadran (1) cheaply. He further dismissed Rahmat Shah for a four-ball duck in the same over leaving Afghanistan on 3/2 after three overs. The visitors were given the big blow in the sixth over as Taskin Ahmed dismissed the second game’s Player of the Match Rahmanullah Gurbaz (6).
Shoriful Islam once again returned and got the prized scalp of Mohammad Nabi (1) to further pile on the misery for Afghanistan and leave them reeling at 15/4 after 8.2 overs. Azmatullah Omarzai tried his best to stabilise the innings with his gutsy half-century (56 off 71). However, he failed to find support from the other end as Afghanistan got bundled out for just 126 in 45.2 overs.
Islam was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh as he registered figures of 4/21 in nine overs while Taskin Ahmed (2/23) and Taijul Islam (2/33) picked up two wickets each.
Litton Das guided his team home with a splendid fifty
In reply, Bangladesh also got an early blow as in-form Fazalhaq Farooqui cleaned up Mohammad Naim for an eight-ball duck. Farooqui further returned to destroy Najmul Hossain Shanto’s stumps in the seventh over to give the hosts their second blow. Following two early blows, captain Litton Das (53*) got set at the crease with Shakib Al Hasan (39) and added 61 runs for the third wicket to take his side closer to victory.
Mohammad Nabi got the better of Shakib in the 18th over and got the third success for his team. However, Towrid Hridoy (22*) and Litton Das took their team home with an unbeaten 40-run stand. As a result, Bangladesh chased down the target in 23.3 overs and won the match by seven wickets.
Meanwhile, Twitter was abuzz with reactions to Bangladesh’s emphatic win.
Here’s how fans reacted to the Bangladesh vs Afghanistan third ODI:
Superb inning from @AzmatOmarzay under pressure 👍 odi series b/w afg vs ban 2023#afgvsban #afagnisthancricket #bangladeshcricket
— Nadeem_Twenty2 (@nfareed479) July 11, 2023
Superb inning from @AzmatOmarzay under pressure 👍 odi series b/w afg vs ban 2023#afgvsban #afagnisthancricket #bangladeshcricket
— Nadeem_Twenty2 (@nfareed479) July 11, 2023
Afganistan collapsing
68/7 #afgvsban #banvsafg
— India Fantasy (@india_fantasy) July 11, 2023
But If you see the wickets of both the matches, in Ban vs Afg 4 were taken by Fast Bowlers but In Ban vs Ind 9 Wickets were taken by Spinners. Pitch in India match is proper Bangladesh wicket with low and slow while pitch of afganistan match has some extra bounce.
— Sibam Behera🇮🇳 (@SibamBehera10) July 11, 2023
@BDTigersCricket restrict Afghanistan to just 126 in the 3rd ODI. @Shoriful_47 was superb while other bowlers contribute a lot to bundle the opponent. #BANVSAFG #Bdcricket
— Adv Saddam (@Advsaddam99) July 11, 2023
🔮 In a thrilling clash between #BAN and #AFG 2023, the image tells the tale – the real vs. predicted performance of every #Bangladesh batsman! 🏏⚡️ Witness the twist and turns as incredible talents take the field! Who will come out on top? #CricketMadness #ExpectTheUnexp pic.twitter.com/jeTdA7UO3c
— Forecast by TVConal (@Forecast_TVC) July 11, 2023
BAN win by 7 wickets,👍
(2-1 series lose) ☹️
Liton Das – 53* run,
Shakib Al Hasan – 39 run,
Shoriful – 4 wickets,
— ιτ’ѕ נαииατн🌷 (@economic_jannat) July 11, 2023
39 runs off 39 balls !
10 over – 13 run – 1 wicket 🏏
What an all-round performance by @Sah75official 👏#BANvAFG #ShakibAlHasan pic.twitter.com/2YI39ZWu2Z
— ꜱʜɪʟᴀᴀᴀ 💅 (@_mirchi___) July 11, 2023
Bangladesh won by 7 wickets against Afghanistan in ctg.#BANvAFG
— Nazmul Hasan Official (@Nazmul_bd86) July 11, 2023