Tigers seek redemption to clinch series against Afghans

Bangladesh hope they will be able to demonstrate an improved performance when they take on Afghanistan in the third and final ODI in a bid to clinch the series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tomorrow (Monday). The match starts at 4pm (Bangladesh Time).

The three-match series is now locked at 1-1. The Tigers suffered a 92-run defeat to hosts Afghanistan in the first match after losing eight wickets for 23 runs but leveled the series with a 68-run victory in the second game, making the third match a deciding one.

Saturday's victory was Bangladesh first at Sharjah, having played their first game here in 1990. Given the outcome of the first two matches, it is predicted the toss will play a vital role in deciding the game. The team which batted first won the game here comfortably. But Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who led the side to victory in the second game with 76-run knock, said the team needs to show more improvement if they want to clinch the series.

"Feel a little better but still there is something (room for improvement)," Shanto said after the second game. "We've to wait till the next match. To be very honest I'm not happy. Probably I have to bat a bit longer because the wicket was difficult against spin. We need to value our wicket," Shanto added, highlighting the importance of batting for a prolonged period in a wicket which is not easier for new batters.

Nasum Ahmed, who made a comeback to the ODI fold after the 2023 World Cup, also played a vital role in winning the game. He made 25 runs with the willow before taking 3-28 with his left-arm spin. Mehidy Hasan Miraz also bowled well to take two wickets with his offspin. Bangladesh spinners in fact outnumbered the much-vaunted Afghan spin attack which gave Shanto a confidence to do well in the third game.

 "The way Miraz and Nasum bowled- credit to them. And the way we started with the new ball - you see Taskin took out Gurbaz. That's what we wanted at the start because he's an important batter." After winning the second game, Bangladesh's win-loss ratio against Afghanistan stood 11-7 in 18 meetings.

Bangladesh had a perfect record against Afghanistan in bilateral ODI series until July last year, when they lost to the Afghans 2-1 in Chattogram. The series defeat in fact initiated a lean period for Bangladesh in what is widely accepted as their strongest format. A victory in the final match, however, would help Bangladesh to avoid a second straight bilateral series defeat to Afghanistan. Shanto said they are now confident to win the series.

"We need to show better performance. The way Jaker finished the game was excellent. Hopefully we will continue the momentum," he added. Bangladesh are unlikely to tinker with the squad after securing a victory which was imperative given the off the field turbulence of late.

Bangladesh:

Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Zakir Hasan, Nazmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Mahmudullah Riyad, Touhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hassan Miraz (Vice Captain), Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam and Nahid Rana.

 
Afghanistan:

Hashmatullah Shahidi (Captain), Rahmat Shah (VC), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ikram Alikhil (WK), Abdul Malik, Riaz Hassan, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Bilal Sami, Naveed Zadran and Farid Ahmad Malik.