Afghanistan’s young cricket star, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, made headlines by showcasing his remarkable talent in a stunning victory over Bangladesh. In the first One-Day International (ODI) held at the Sharjah Stadium, Ghazanfar spun his magic and led Afghanistan to a 92-run win, leaving Bangladesh in shock.

The match was special for more than one reason. It was the 300th international game played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, and Ghazanfar rose to the occasion. His six-wicket haul dismantled Bangladesh’s batting lineup, proving why he’s considered a future star for Afghanistan.

Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, expressed his delight after the win, saying, “I’m very happy with how we performed. We knew that scoring 220 would give us a good chance, and our bowlers delivered.” Shahidi also praised Ghazanfar, calling him a “special talent” and highlighting Afghanistan’s strong lineup of young players ready to step up.

The win didn’t come easily for Afghanistan, though. Early in their innings, they were struggling at just 71 runs with half their team already dismissed. But thanks to former captain Mohammad Nabi and Shahidi himself, they managed to pull things together. The duo added 104 runs for the sixth wicket, helping Afghanistan post a respectable total of 235 in 49.4 overs.

Bangladesh had a promising start in their chase. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz put up a solid 55-run partnership, and Soumya Sarkar also contributed with a good opening spell after returning to the squad after nine months. At one point, Bangladesh was comfortably placed at 120 for two, with the required run rate well within reach.

However, things took a turn when Ghazanfar broke the partnership, opening the door for Nabi and Rashid Khan to step in. What followed was a dramatic collapse by Bangladesh’s batting order, as they lost their remaining eight wickets for just 23 runs.

Reflecting on the defeat, Shanto acknowledged where things went wrong, stating, “The wicket had low bounce, and my dismissal changed the game. I was set and needed to stay longer. Afghanistan’s mystery spinners bowled really well today. We’ll aim to come back stronger in the next game.”

Afghanistan now leads the three-match series 1-0 and will look to carry this momentum forward into the upcoming fixtures. Bangladesh will hope to regroup and bounce back in the next encounter.

Key takeaways:
– Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar’s six-wicket haul led Afghanistan to a 92-run victory.
– Mohammad Nabi and Hashmatullah Shahidi’s crucial partnership helped Afghanistan post 235 runs.
– Bangladesh suffered a dramatic collapse after being in a strong position at 120 for two.
– Afghanistan’s mystery spinners once again played a crucial role in their win.