Afif Hossain (93 not out) and Mehidy Hasan (81 not out) played probably the best cricket in their career as the duo's unbroken 174-run seventh-wicket stand helped Bangladesh script a stunning four-wicket win against Afghanistan in the first ODI at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Wednesday. Coming together when Bangladesh were reeling at 45/6, the pair of Afif Hossain and Mehidy Hasan put the bad balls away to clinch a career-defining win. Earlier, Fazalhaq Farooqi's four-fer had rocked Bangladesh at the start of the chase. Batting first, Afghanistan scored 215 on the back of Najibullah Zadran's 67. Mustafizur Rahman was Bangladesh's best bowler with 3/35. Get highlights of BAN vs AFG here.
18:35 PM (IST): Bangladesh win
Afif Hossain hits Gulbadin Naib for a boundary to give Bangladesh a scintillating victory against Afghanistan in the first ODI. From 45/6 at one stage to win the game, this is heroic batting from Afif and Mehidy Hasan. The duo put 174 runs for the unbroken 7th wicket.
18:26 PM (IST): BAN 212/6 (48)
Bangladesh are just a hit away from a memorable win.
18:15 PM (IST): BAN 200/6 (26)
Bangladesh inch closer to victory. Need 16 runs from 24 balls.
17:58 PM (IST): BAN 172/6 (42)
Bangladesh are inching closer to what looks like an improbable victory against Afghanistan. The Mehidy Hasan and Afif Hossain partnership has grown to 129 now and the hosts need 44 runs in 48 balls.
17:07 PM (IST): BAN 130/6 (30)
Bangladesh have produced a stunning fightback in this first ODI against Afghanistan. After being down to 51/6 at one stage, the 85-run stand by Mehidy Hasan and Afif Hossain has once again brought some hope for the hosts. Afif is batting on 49 while Mehidy is batting on 38. Bangladesh still need 86 runs to win. Meanwhile, the match has been halted due to a floodlight failure.
16:33 PM (IST): BAN 105/6 (24)
The partnership between Mehidy Hasan and Afif Hossain has grown to 60 off 76 balls. Mehidy is batting on 27 while Afif has scored 35 so far.
16:16 PM (IST): BAN 87/6 (19)
Afif Hossain and Mehidy Hasan have steadied the Bangladesh ship with an unbeaten 42-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Afif is batting on 27 while Mehidy is giving him company on 18. Bangladesh still need 129 runs.
15:46 PM (IST): BAN 51/6 (12)
Rashid Khan picks up Mahmudullah to put Afghanistan in the driver's seat against Bangladesh. Truly unexpected from the hosts. They still need 165 runs to win.
15:24 PM (IST): BAN 28/5 (8)
Shakib Al Hasan bites the dust as Mujeeb Ur Rahman gets his first wicket on the day. Bangladesh are in some serious trouble. Afif Hossain comes to the crease. Shakib goes for 10.
15:21 PM (IST): BAN 26/4 (7)
Two double-wicket overs from Fazalhaq Farooqi have Bangladesh in serious trouble. Bangladesh have lost Liton Das, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Yasir Ali with just 28 runs on board inside the powerplay. Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah are currently batting.
14:13 PM (IST): AFG 215 all out (49.1)
Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam took the final two wickets as Afghanistan are bowled out for 215 in 49.1 overs. Mustafizur finished with 3/35.
14:03 PM (IST): AFG 195/8 (45.5)
Mustafizur Rahman gets into the act. He dismisses Mujeeb Ur Rahman for another duck.
13:51 PM (IST): AFG 194/7 (45)
Shakib Al Hasan strikes twice in an over. First, he removes Gulbadin Naib for 17 and then Rashid Khan for a duck three balls later. Earlier. Najibullah Zadran completed his fifty in the 43rd over.
13:18 PM (IST): AFG 165/5 (38.3)
Taskin Ahmed strikes again. Mohammad Nabi goes for a drive, gets a thick edge and Mushfiqur Rahim completes the catch behind the stumps. Nabi goes for 20. Gulbadin Naib comes in the middle.
13:12 PM (IST): AFG 161/4 (38)
Afghanistan reach the 150-run mark. Najibullah Zadran (41*) is leading the Afghanistan charge while Mohammad Nabi is giving him perfect company at the other end on 16.
12:34 PM (IST): AFG 126/4 (33)
Afghanistan have lost captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah for 28 and 34 respectively. Taskin Ahmed dismissed Shah while Mahmudullah acciunted for Shahidi. Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi are currently in the middle.
11:55 AM (IST): AFG 66/2 (18)
Afghanistan have lost the wicket of Ibrahim Zadran (19 off 23). Shoriful Islam claimed the wicket. Hashmatullah Shahidi joined Rahmat Shah who is at the other end with 27 off 55.
Bangladesh are dominating the game.
11:24 AM (IST): AFG 41/1 (10)
Afghanistan have scored at a decent rate so far. Ibrahim Zadran (17 off 17) and Rahmat Shah (10 off 29) have added 30 runs between them.
10:58 AM (IST): AFG 15/1 (5)
Afghanistan have had a slow start. They lost the wicket of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (7 off 14) in the third over when the team's score was 11.Gurbaz tried to take on Mustafizur Rahman and paid the price by handing a catch to Tamim Iqbal. Rahmat Shah is the next batter.
10:30 AM (IST): It's Match Time
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran start for Afghanistan. Mustafizur Rahman has the new ball in hand.
10:20 AM (IST): ODI Debut For Yasir Ali
Middle-order Bangladesh batter Yasir Ali has been handed his ODI cap. He has played three Tests for the national side so far.
10:17 AM (IST): Playing XIs
Bangladesh: Liton Das, Tamim Iqbal (c), Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (w), Yasir Ali, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Mehidy Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (w), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Gulbadin Naib, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Yamin Ahmadzai, Fazalhaq Farooqi
10:09 AM (IST): Afghanistan Opt To Bat
Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi has won the toss and opted to bat first against Bangladesh in the first ODI at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram.
9:42 AM (IST): Welcome Everyone
Hello everyone, welcome to the live blog of the first ODI that takes place between Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
BAN Vs AFG PREVIEW:
Afghanistan will bank on some secret 'intelligence' to look Bangladesh in the eye in the ODI series and the T20 internationals that follow. Afghanistan's interim coach Stuart Law has been Bangladesh coach before and with knowledge on several players who make the current home team squad, will be an asset in the AFG dressing room.
Afghanistan have always done well in Bangladesh. They had beaten BAN in the 2014 Asia Cup for a memorable win and then in 2016 lost a three-match ODI series 2-1.
Bangladesh, of course, are formidable at home. They have lost just one bilateral series in the last eight years and with Super League points at stake, Bangladesh look very well balanced in terms of team composition.
Tamim Iqbal, who missed the series in New Zealand, is back as captain and the return of former skippers Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah will bolster the middle order to a large extent.
Afghanistan will bank on the arsenal of spinners and Mohammad Nabi's return to the ODI fold is just great news. With Rashid Khan and Mujeeb ur Rahman available, AFG will bank on 30 overs of quality spin. Mujeeb was part of the Fortune Barishal team that played the BPL final last week.
Bangladesh are second in the ODI Super League but they last played an ODI last July against Zimbabwe. Afghanistan are sixth, but they have played half as many games though won them all against Ireland and the Netherlands.
