Bangladesh Fall Short as Afghanistan Clinch Victory in First ODI

Bangladesh’s batting collapse proved costly as they suffered a five-wicket defeat to Afghanistan in the first ODI in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, despite a spirited showing from their bowlers.

After opting to bat first, Bangladesh were dismissed for 221 runs in 48.5 overs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz top-scored with a gritty 60, but the lack of meaningful partnerships hindered the Tigers from setting a challenging target.

Defending a modest total, spinners Tanvir Islam and Mehidy Hasan Miraz led a strong fightback with disciplined bowling, restricting the flow of runs and keeping the Afghan batters under pressure through the middle overs.

However, Azmatullah Omarzai and Hashmatullah Shahidi steadied Afghanistan’s chase with a composed partnership, guiding their team to victory with five wickets in hand in 47.1 overs.

While Bangladesh’s bowlers earned credit for their determination, the defeat once again highlighted the team’s recurring batting woes in key matches.