Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran tons guide Afghanistan to 331

Afghanistan continued their good work in the ODI series with a dominant performance with the bat in the second ODI, racking up an impressive 331/9, their third-highest ODI total, after being put in to bat.

Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (145 off 125) and Ibrahim Zadran (100 off 119) raised contrasting hundreds but formed two halves of a massive 256-run opening stand, the highest ever for Afghanistan that set them up for a score in excess of 350 but it took a grand effort from Bangladesh in the closing overs to keep their target down to only 332, which although a big target isn't beyond the hosts on what's a very good pitch.

It all started with a good powerplay upfront for Afghanistan, who totalled an effortless 67 runs in the first 10 overs. Both batters scored more freely thereafter, with Gurbaz bringing up his 48-ball fifty by launching Shakib Al Hasan for a six over deep square leg. He reached his century, his third in ODIs, off 100 balls as Bangladesh looked out of clues to dislodge the opening stand.

It took a flat darter from Shakib to dismiss Gurbaz and put an end to the mammoth stand but not before the batter had raised his highest ODI score. This, though, proved to the point from whereon Bangladesh made a strong comeback. Only 75 runs came in the last 14 overs as Bangladesh bowlers kept chipping in with wickets. Ebadot Hossain followed up Gurbaz's wicket with that of Rahmat Shah in the next over. Mehidy Hasan then bowled Hashmatullah Shahidi in the over after as regular wickets fell and kept Afghanistan from getting away, even as Zadran brought up his fourth ODI hundred off 118 balls.

Zadran fell right after his milestone to Mustafzur Rahman who also picked up Azmatullah Omarzai later in the innings. Mohammad Nabi's cameo of 25* off 15 took Afghanistan in excess of 330 but whether that will be enough is anybody's guess.

Brief Scores: Afghanistan 331/9 in 50 overs (Gurbaz 145, Zadran 100; Shakib 2-50) vs Bangladesh