Afghanistan A maintain dominance taking 2-0 lead in ODI serie

Dhaka – A brilliant century by Ibrahim Zadran guided Afghanistan A to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match unofficial ODI series beating Bangladesh A by four wickets in 2nd one-dayer at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Sunday.
With the day’s feat, the 2nd string Afghan team established their strong command over their Bangladesh counterpart and poised for winning the one-day series too after clinching the two-match unofficial Test series 1-0.
The home side made a frustrating start in the one-day series losing the first match by an embarrassing 10 wickets at the same venue last Friday, despite having four national cricketers – Anamul Haque, Sabbir Rahman, Rubel Hossain and Mohammad Mithun-in the squad.
Earlier in the Test series, Afghanistan A team beat Bangladesh A team by seven wickets in the first match at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna and settled for a draw in rain interrupted second match in Chattogram last week to win the series 1-0.
The third one-day match between two teams will also be held at the same venue in Chattogram on July 24 while the last two matches, scheduled for July 27 and 29 at the BKSP ground in Savar.
Sent into bat first in the day’s 2nd one-day match, hosts Bangladesh A team scored a fighting total of 278 runs for 9 in stipulated 50 overs, featuring a 97-run partnership for the 3rd wicket between England & Wales 2019 alumna Mohammad Mithun and Mohammad Nayem.
Mithun hammered 85 runs off 91 balls hitting five fours and four sixes, Nayem scored 49 runs off 57 balls with three fours and a six, Imrul Kayes made 55-ball 40 runs hitting five fours, national opener Anamul Haque Bijoy scored 24-ball 26 with three fours and one six while national all-rounder Sabbir Rahman scored 38-ball 35 runs with one four and one six.
In reply, touring Afghanistan team reached their target scoring 281 runs for the loss of six wickets in 49.1 overs, featuring the brilliant century by Ibrahim Zadran, who furnished his 149 balls innings with seven boundaries and seven over boundaries.
Later, Ibrahim Zadran was adjudged man of the match.
Besides, Sharafuddin Ashraf (not out 36), Usman Ghani (26), Karim Janat (24) and Rahmanullah Gunbaz (21) were the other main contributors for the tourists.
Bangladesh pacer Shafiul Islam bagged two wickets for 59 runs while Sabbir Rahman, Abu Hider Rony and Abu Jayed Rahi took one wicket each.UNB