Bangladesh need a record-breaking chase down to level the series as Afghanistan set a target of 332 runs for the Tigers after Bangladesh chose to bowl in their second of the three one-day international matches at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Saturday.
Bangladesh have never won a match in Chattogram chasing more than 300.
Afghanistan looked dangerous as Afghan openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran made a 256-run opening stand, but Shakib Al Hasan brought the breakthrough in the 37th over downing Gurbaz.
Bangladesh finally made a comeback into the match as Afghans could only manage only 75 runs as the hosts took nine wickets in the final 14 overs.
After the Gurbaz-Zadran partnership was broken, a couple of wickets followed as Ebadot Hossain ousted Rahmat Shah in the next over before Mehidy Hasan Miraz bowled Hashmatullah Shahidi in the final ball of the 39th over.
In the final 10 overs, Bangladesh put the pressure back on Afghanistan as wickets kept coming at regular intervals. Miraz sent Najibullah Zadran back to the pavilion with a short outside off slower.
Ibrahim Zadran made history for Afghanistan when he completed his century as his century marked the first time when both Afghan openers completed centuries in an ODI before getting trapped on Mustafizur’s shorter.
Mustafiz completed his three-wicket haul by getting Azmatullah Omarjai out, and with that Afghanistan’s innings ended on 331-9.
