Afghanistan Blitz Bangladesh Top Order to Storm Into Tri-Series Final

Abu Dhabi: Afghanistan’s new-ball pair delivered a spell of such ferocity that Bangladesh’s innings never truly recovered. Yamin Ahmadzai and Azmatullah Omarzai tore through the top order inside the first seven overs, setting up a seven-wicket victory that knocked Bangladesh out of the 2026 ODI tri-series and sent Afghanistan into the final against Zimbabwe.

WINNING MOMENTS! 🤩

Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets and qualified for the final of the Etisalat ACB ODI Tri-Nation Series 2026, powered by Super Cola. 🙌

#AfghanAtalan | #AFGvBAN | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam | #ThreeTeamsOneSpirit https://t.co/Brhno4cjNA

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) October 21, 2026

Bangladesh elected to bat but were immediately confronted with a nightmare. Ahmadzai removed Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Soumya Sarkar off consecutive deliveries in his opening over, a double strike that rattled the dressing room before the innings had gathered any momentum. Omarzai then accounted for Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy, reducing Bangladesh to 28 for 4 inside seven overs.

The wreckage was comprehensive. Ahmadzai finished with 2 for 21, Omarzai with 2 for 27, and Bangladesh’s much-vaunted batting line-up was left searching for answers on a surface that offered early assistance.

Emon and Saif Offer Brief Resistance

Parvez Hossain Emon and Saif Hassan mounted a recovery that briefly steadied the innings. Their 93-run partnership for the fifth wicket brought a measure of control, with Emon batting with composure and Saif providing able support. Saif’s dismissal for 41, caught off Mohammad Nabi, broke the stand and reopened the door.

Rashid Khan walked through it. The legspinner cleaned up the tail with ruthless efficiency, returning figures of 4 for 31 from 8.2 overs. Bangladesh collapsed from 121 for 4 to 160 all out inside ten overs, losing their last six wickets for just 39 runs. Emon top-scored with a hard-fought 70 off 96 balls before falling LBW to Rashid, and the innings folded in 41.2 overs.

Rahmat Anchors the Chase

Chasing 161, Afghanistan lost Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 6 and Sediqullah Atal for 4, both to Taskin Ahmed, leaving them at 39 for 2 in the seventh over. Taskin finished with 2 for 36, but the early wickets were not enough to unsettle the chase.

Ibrahim Zadran contributed a solid 34 off 48 balls, sharing a 56-run stand with captain Rahmat Shah that restored order. When Zadran fell to Mustafizur Rahman, Rahmat assumed control. His unbeaten 67 off 90 balls anchored the innings, and a further 66-run partnership with Hashmatullah Shahidi, who remained unbeaten on 36, carried Afghanistan home in 35.3 overs.

The victory sets up a finale with Zimbabwe, while Bangladesh exit the tournament with questions to answer about their top-order resilience against quality new-ball bowling.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 160 in 41.2 overs (Parvez Hossain Emon 70, Saif Hassan 41; Rashid Khan 4-31, Yamin Ahmadzai 2-21, Azmatullah Omarzai 2-27) lost to Afghanistan 161/3 in 35.3 overs (Rahmat Shah 67, Hashmatullah Shahidi 36, Ibrahim Zadran 34; Taskin Ahmed 2-36) by 7 wickets.

                                               

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