Photo: Collected

DHAKA, Oct 8, 2025 (BSS)-Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Towhid Hridoy struck half-centuries to help Bangladesh compile a challenging 221-5 in the three-match ODI series opening game against Afghanistan at Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi today.

Miraz hit team-best 60 off 87 with one four and one six while Hridoy made 56, his consecutive third fifty and fourth fifty plus in last his five ODI innings. His innings was laced with one four and three sixes.

He came into the game with a poor T20 form behind, that cost his place in the T20 series against Afghanistan but stool tall in the first ODI when it mattered most. 

He and Miraz added 101 runs for the fourth wicket to lay a solid platform but a familiar collapse saw Bangladesh lost last six wickets for 67 runs.

After opting to bat first, Miraz said a total around 280 might be a good total here but the top order batters couldn't justify the decision to bat first.

Afghanistan pacer Azmatullah Omarzai dealt a double strike, removing opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim for 10 and Najmul Hossain Shanto for 2, leaving Bangladesh 25-2.

Saif Hassan, who made ODI debut, appeared to have translated his T20 form but was undone by Naangeyalia Kharote after making 26 off 37.

Miraz and Hridoy were shaky at the start as Afghanistan pacers bowled in disciplined channel.

They steered Bangladesh through the torrid period and brought up their respective half-centuries before legspinner Rahsid Khan got into act.

Rashid dismissed both of the batters in quick succession to spark the collapse. He also took the wicket of Nurul Hasan Sohan to finish with 3-38.

Omarzai who took 3-40 and AM Ghazanfar (2-55) cleaned up the tail as Bangladesh lower order batters failed to make resistance for a long time.