Bangladesh win ODI series beating Afghanistan by 88 runs

Bangladesh clinched one day international (ODI) series against Afghanistan with one match to spare beating the visitors by 88 runs on Friday.

Afghanistan were all out for 218 in 45.1 overs replying to Bangladesh’s 306 for 4 in 50 overs in Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

With the win, the tigers hosts have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Two wickets each from Taskin Ahmed (2-31) and Shakib Al Hasan (2-38) helped them bowl out Afghanistan for 218 in 45.1 overs.

Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Afif Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam got one wicket each.

AFP reports: Afghanistan lost their first three wickets cheaply and were facing humiliation at 34-3 before Najibullah Zadran (54) and Rahmat Shah (52) lifted them with an 89-run stand for the fourth wicket.

But Taskin bowled Shah to break the partnership and then dismissed Zadran to put Bangladesh firmly in control.

Bangladesh had been in early trouble, when they opted to bat only for left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi to trap Tamim Iqbal leg-before for 12 and Rashid Khan to get rid of Shakib (20) off his second ball.

But Liton and Mushfiqur steadied the ship.

Liton brought up his fifth ODI century with a four off Rashid and hit 16 fours and two sixes in his innings.

Liton struck 136 off 126 balls and Mushfiqur Rahim added 86 off 93 balls to guide Bangladesh to 306-4.

Fareed Ahmad dismissed Liton and Mushfiqur off successive deliveries but not before they surpassed Bangladesh's previous highest third-wicket ODI partnership of 176 runs, set by Tamim and Mushfiqur against Pakistan in 2015.

"The partnership Liton and Mushy created was amazing," said Bangladesh captain Tamim. "Though we did not finish well with the bat the bowlers did the job for us."

Fareed finished with 2-56 for Afghanistan, playing his first match in the series.

"We conceded a few too many in the early overs and then that partnership between Mushy and Liton took the game away from us," lamented Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi.

It was the second Bangladesh partnership record of the series, after a seventh-wicket stand between Afif Hossain and Mehidy Hasan took them to a four-wicket victory in the first match on Wednesday.

The third and final match of the series will be held on Monday at the same ground.

Bangladesh won Wednesday's first match of the series by four wickets.

The third and final match will be held on Monday at the same ground.