Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran centuries help Afghanistan clinch historic ODI series in Bangladesh

By India Today Sports DeskControversy struck Bangladesh looked out of sorts on Saturday, 8 July while playing the 2nd ODI game of the three-match series against Bangladesh at Chattogram. A poor batting effort in the second innings of the game saw Litton Das’s team lose by a massive margin of 142 runs and lose their first ever ODI series in home soil against Bangladesh.

Afghanistan’s historic ODI series win was powered by openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zardran who added 256 runs for the opening partnership – Afghanistan’s highest in the Bangladesh soil.

The batters helped Afghanistan post 331 runs after being sent to bat first on Saturday. The visiting side was ruthless with the ball as in-form Fazalhaq Farooqi and Mujeeb Ur Rahman ran through the Bangladesh batting line-up to dismiss 6 wickets for just 72 runs.

Litton Das was the first to depart with a mistimed pull shot against Farooqi that was caught by Mohammed Nabi at short mid-wicket. Bangladesh were in freefall from their and their misery ended in the 44th over with the hosts getting bundled out for just 189 runs.

Litton, captaining in the first match of this series after a controversial retirement saga of Tamim Iqbal blamed his bowlers for not bowling well against Bangladesh and said that they needed to do much better with both bat and ball

“When you win the toss and bowl first, the bowlers didn’t do their job. We were not up to the mark in the field and with the ball. The way Gurbaz and Ibrahim batted, credit goes to them. After they departed, it was a different ball-game, the bowlers bowled well,” Litton said after the match.

“As an opener if you bat like 20-25 overs, it is not difficult but you have to control yourself to not give wickets in powerplay because they have good quality bowlers,” he further added.

Earlier in the innings, Gurbaz and Zadran notched up patient centuries for the opening stand. Afghanistan failed to capitalise on the same after the first wicket fell in the 37th over, posting not even 100 runs after that. After the twin centuries by the openers, Mohammad Nabi was the highest scorer (25* off 15), as the Afghan batters lost wickets in quick intervals.

“After three-four innings, I was in hard situation, my performance wasn’t very good but I can say thanks to captain and coach. They give a lot of support and confidence to me,” Gurbaz said after the match.

“The pitch was good for batting. It was planned from the coach and captain. Few matches, I was in a bit of a hurry. This match, I took my time. I read the conditions and then it was easier for me. I think credit goes to him [Zadran] as well. The way he played, he is in good form and he is a very good player. Got so much support from him,” the player of the match winner concluded.