Afghanistan crush Bangladesh to clinch ODI series

Afghanistan dominated Bangladesh in all departments in the second ODI of the three-match series, sealing the series with a comprehensive win. The hosts bounced back strongly after a 3–0 defeat in the preceding T20I series.

Winning the toss, Afghanistan opted to bat first and posted a below-par total of 190 all out. They lost wickets at regular intervals, but Ibrahim Zadran stood firm at one end, scoring 95 runs. He was eventually dismissed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz while attempting a big shot down the wicket. Rishad Hossain took a brilliant catch to send him back just five runs short of a century.

In reply, Bangladesh crumbled to 109 all out in 28.3 overs, largely undone by Rashid Khan’s spectacular spell of five wickets for 17 runs. Azmatullah Omarzai struck early, removing both openers within the first two overs, while Rashid spun through the middle and lower order to complete the rout. This marked Rashid Khan’s third-best bowling figures in ODIs.

Earlier, Ibrahim had held the innings together amid regular wickets, while Bangladesh’s spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz (3–42) and Rishad Hossain (2–37) kept Afghanistan under pressure. For Bangladesh, Saif Hassan (22) and Towhid Hridoy (24) offered brief resistance, but no partnership lasted long enough to challenge the hosts. Skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz fell lbw for 4, and the tail folded quickly under Rashid’s relentless spin.

The victory gave Afghanistan an unassailable 2–0 lead in the series, as their disciplined bowling and sharper batting once again exposed Bangladesh’s struggles in foreign conditions. The final ODI will be played at the same venue on Monday.