Bangladesh fold for 221 despite Hridoy-Miraz resistance against Afghanistan

Bangladesh’s batting woes resurfaced once again as the team were bowled out for 221 runs in 48.5 overs against Afghanistan, despite a valiant fightback led by Towhid Hridoy and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who stitched together a crucial 101-run partnership for the fourth wicket at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The day began with promise when captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz won the toss and surprisingly chose to bat first on a surface that offered some early movement and assistance for seamers. The greenish tinge on the wicket hinted that batting first might be a gamble—and it soon proved to be exactly that.

Openers Tanzid Hasan Tamim and debutant Saif Hasan walked in under pressure to provide a steady start but found themselves tested by a disciplined Afghan pace attack. In the fourth over, chaos unfolded. Saif and Tanzid survived consecutive dropped catches off the second and third deliveries, but luck ran out soon after. Tanzid edged one behind the stumps on the fourth ball to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, departing for 10 off 10 balls, leaving Bangladesh wobbling at 18 for 1.

Former captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto, expected to anchor the innings, failed to make an impact. He managed only 2 runs before being caught by Hashmatullah Shahidi off Azmatullah Omarzai’s bowling, deepening the crisis at 25 for 2.

Saif Hasan tried to steady the innings alongside Towhid Hridoy, adding 28 runs for the third wicket, but impatience got the better of him. Attempting to clear long-off against Nangyal Kharoti, he mistimed his shot and found Rashid Khan waiting comfortably underneath. Saif departed for 26, and Bangladesh were tottering at 53 for 3.

At that point, Afghanistan seemed firmly in control. But Hridoy and Miraz rose to the occasion with composure and grit. Their partnership combined calm accumulation with well-placed boundaries, as they blunted the Afghan spin duo of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman with solid technique. The pair rotated the strike smartly, built pressure-releasing singles, and guided Bangladesh past the 150-run mark.

Both reached their half-centuries, showing the kind of maturity missing from the top order. But just when Bangladesh appeared to be clawing their way back, disaster struck. A moment’s hesitation while taking a quick single led to Hridoy being run out for 56 off 85 balls, ending the crucial stand at 154 for 4. His dismissal opened the floodgates.

Miraz, who had anchored the innings with great responsibility, soon followed after completing his own fifty, leaving Bangladesh’s tail exposed. The lower order offered little resistance as the remaining batsmen fell cheaply to Afghanistan’s relentless attack. The innings folded for 221 in 48.5 overs, a total that looked underwhelming given the early promise.

For Afghanistan, the bowlers shared the spoils, maintaining tight lines and exploiting the pitch’s movement effectively. Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai were particularly economical, ensuring Bangladesh never gained momentum after the Hridoy–Miraz partnership.

As the match heads into the second innings, Bangladesh face an uphill battle. On a pitch offering some assistance to bowlers, their only hope now rests on early breakthroughs and disciplined bowling. With 221 on the board, the Tigers will need more than skill—they’ll need grit, precision, and perhaps a bit of luck to turn the game around in Abu Dhabi.