DHAKA, Nov 9, 2024 (BSS)-Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto struck a brilliant 76 
as Bangladesh posted 252-7 in the second ODI of three-match series against 
Afghanistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in UAE today.

The match turned out to be a 'do or die' game for Bangladesh to keep the 
series alive following their 92-run defeat in the first ODI.

Soumya Sarkar scored 35 while Nasum Ahmed, who made a comeback to the side 
after 2023 ODI World Cup contributed 25. Debutant Jaker Ali Anik, who 
replaced injured Mushfiqur Rahim added 37 not out and helped the side take a 
respectable position after a mini collapse. 

Left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote claimed 3-28 and legspinner Rashid Khan 
took 2-32. Offspinner Mohammad Ghazanfar who ripped through Bangladesh 
batting line up with 6-26 in the first game, this time, snapped up 2-35.

Bangladesh's success lied on dealing with Ghazanfar well in this match.

After opting to bat first, Bangladesh made a rapid start thanks to Tanzid 
Hasan Tamim who made 17 ball-22, negotiating pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi with 
utmost confidence.

Ghazanfar gave the first breakthrough, having claimed the wicket of Tanzid 
but Soumya and Shanto cautiously dealt with the mysterious offspinner to keep 
Bangladesh on course.

Rashid Khan trapped Soumya leg-before to end the 71-run partnership. Shanto 
then shared 53-run partnership with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, a partnership that 
was also broken by Rashid when he got rid of Miraz for 22. 

Shanto raised his fifth ODI half-century of 75, pushing a delivery of 
Mohammad Nabi to mid-on for a single.

His cautious approached served the team well and him also but all of a sudden 
he tried to dominate Nangeyalia Khatore and threw away his wicket. He struck 
six fours and one six in 119 balls.

Soon after Mahmudullah Riyad also perished to a bad shot as Bangladesh lost 
three wickets for nine runs, which awakened a prospect of a collapse like the 
first match in which they lost eight wickets for 23 runs.

But Jaker Ali and Nasum Ahmed shared 46 runs for the seventh wicket to bring 
the side back into the contest. Kharote took out Nasum before Jaker hit some 
lusty blows to help the side propel past 250.