Afghanistan crushed Bangladesh by 200 runs in the 3rd ODI, completing a clean sweep in the series with a dominant display at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium. Opener Ibrahim Zadran anchored the innings with a classy 95, while Mohammad Nabi smashed an unbeaten 62 off 37 balls to propel Afghanistan to 293/9.

Bangladesh’s batting collapsed spectacularly, bundled out for just 93 in 27.1 overs, with Bilal Sami claiming his maiden five-wicket haul (5/33). This victory marks Afghanistan’s biggest ODI win margin against a Full Member nation, solidifying their rising status in international cricket.

Afghanistan vs Bangladesh 3rd ODI: Zadran’s 95 & Sami’s 5-Wicket Haul Seal 200-Run Victory – Full Highlights

Afghanistan’s Batting Masterclass: Zadran and Nabi Power Team to 293

Afghanistan’s innings was built on two contrasting yet equally crucial knocks. Young opener Ibrahim Zadran displayed remarkable patience with his 95 off 98 balls, while veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi unleashed an explosive 62* from just 37 deliveries. The pair combined to take Afghanistan to a commanding 293/9 after being put in to bat.

Zadran’s innings was particularly noteworthy for its technical discipline:

• Faced 42 dot balls in the powerplay before accelerating
• Only played 12 attacking shots in his first 50 runs
• Hit 4 boundaries and 1 six in his 151-ball stay

Nabi’s late assault proved equally vital:

• 6 fours and 3 sixes in his unbeaten knock
• Took just 15 balls to move from 20 to 50
• Scored 22 runs off Shakib Al Hasan’s final over

Mr. Owl here! What fascinated me was Nabi’s strike rate progression: 80 in first 10 balls, 165 in next 10, and 233 in last 17. That’s calculated destruction!

Sami’s Career-Defining Spell: The 5-Wicket Haul That Broke Bangladesh

21-year-old Bilal Sami announced himself on the international stage with figures of 5/33, the best by an Afghan seamer against a Test-playing nation. His disciplined line and ability to extract movement destroyed Bangladesh’s top order within the first 15 overs.

Sami’s wickets came through:

1. Tamim Iqbal (8) – caught behind driving at wide delivery
2. Najmul Hossain (5) – trapped LBW by inswinger
3. Mushfiqur Rahim (6) – bowled through the gate
4. Mahmudullah (12) – edged to slip
5. Taskin Ahmed (0) – clean bowled

The right-armer showcased remarkable control for his age:

Fascinating fact – Sami’s average speed was 141.3km/h, yet his most effective delivery was a 126km/h off-cutter that got Mahmudullah. Smart bowling beats raw pace!

Bangladesh’s Catastrophic Collapse: Analyzing the 93 All Out Debacle

Bangladesh’s innings lasted just 27.1 overs as they folded for 93 – their second lowest total against Afghanistan. The collapse exposed multiple technical deficiencies against quality pace and spin.

Key failure points:

• Top-order frailty: Lost 3 wickets for 15 runs in first 5 overs
• Spin vulnerability: 5 wickets to Rashid and Nabi at 2.4 runs per over
• Mental fragility: 4 ducks including Shakib and Liton

The psychological impact was visible in:

Records Tumble in Afghanistan’s Historic Victory

The match witnessed multiple historic achievements for Afghanistan cricket:

Team Records:

• Largest victory margin (200 runs) vs Full Member
• First 3-0 ODI series sweep against Test nation
• Highest team total (293) vs Bangladesh in UAE

Individual Milestones:

1. Bilal Sami – Youngest Afghan with ODI 5-wicket haul (21y 87d)
2. Ibrahim Zadran – Crossed 1000 ODI runs in 25 innings
3. Mohammad Nabi – Became 2nd Afghan to 3000 runs & 150 wickets

Most significantly, Afghanistan overtook Bangladesh in ICC ODI rankings (7th vs 8th) for the first time in history.

Remarkable progress – Afghanistan now has wins against every Full Member except India and Australia. That 2027 World Cup qualification looks secure!

Where Does This Afghanistan Team Go From Here?

This series win establishes Afghanistan as genuine contenders in world cricket. Several factors suggest they could achieve more:

Emerging Strengths:

• Pace-Spin balance (Sami + Rashid combination)
• Young batting core (Zadran, Gurbaz, Omarzai all under 25)
• Improved death bowling (economy rate reduced from 7.2 to 5.8)

Future Challenges:

1. Consistency outside Asian conditions
2. Developing bench strength for key positions
3. Translating bilateral success to global tournaments

The upcoming tours against Australia and India will provide the ultimate test of whether this Afghan golden generation can gatecrash cricket’s elite.

My prediction? Afghanistan will beat at least one of Australia/India at home this winter. Their spinners in UAE conditions are a different beast altogether!

Turning Point: The Over That Changed Everything

The 38th over of Afghanistan’s innings proved decisive. With Nabi on 20* and the score at 212/7, Shakib Al Hasan’s over went for 22 runs:

Ball-by-ball:

• 6 (Slog sweep over midwicket)
• 4 (Reverse sweep to third man)
• 4 (Scoop over short fine leg)
• 2 (Miscue that fell safely)
• 6 (Straight down the ground)
• 0 (Dot ball)

This took Afghanistan from possible 250 to guaranteed 290+ total, crushing Bangladesh’s morale before their innings began.

Bangladesh’s Selection Conundrums Post-Series

The heavy defeat raises serious questions about Bangladesh’s team structure and selection policy:

Key Issues:

The defeat marked Bangladesh’s 8th consecutive ODI loss to Full Members away from home – a worrying trend needing urgent attention.