sports reporter/

Bangladesh were last whitewashed in an ODI at home in 2014 against Sri Lanka. This time against Afghanistan, that shame was glaring. But the Tigers won by 7 wickets by playing great cricket with bat and ball.

Bangladesh, with its eyes set on the World Cup in India, has had good times and bad times with the bat. But in previous years, the red-green representatives were consistent in the bowling attack. They bowled forgettable in the second match against the Afghans. However, Shariful-Taskin showed their inner strength in the last ODI at the Zahoor Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on Tuesday.

This bowling pair won the toss and took 4 wickets for 15 runs of the Afghans. Opener Ibrahim Zadran (1), Rahmat Shah (0), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (6) who scored a great century in the previous match and Mohammad Nabi (1) all failed one by one.

Afghanistan could not handle that initial shock. Captain Hasmatullah Shahedi tried but failed. He was bowled by left-arm spinner Taijul after scoring 22 runs. After that, Najibullah Zadran was sent back by Shakib. Shariful-Taskin took another wicket each. Among these, Telender Aztamullah Omarzai played the highest innings of 56 runs for the team.

Chasing a small target, Bangladesh lost two wickets in the beginning. Naeem Sheikh, who got a chance in the XI in place of Tamim Iqbal, was bowled by Fazal Haq Farooqui in this match. He could not score any run after playing eight balls. Farooqui then bowled Nazmul Shanto (11). The team’s run was 28.

Opener Liton Das and Shakib Al Hasan, who dropped four, took the team to victory. When their pair reached 62 runs, Shakib returned with a catch. 39 runs came from 39 balls with five fours from his bat. Later Liton and Hridoy came to finish the match. Liton, who was running out of runs in ODIs, played an innings of 53 runs off 60 balls with three fours and two sixes. Hridoy remained unbeaten on 22 runs.