Atal Century and Rashid Spin Rout Zimbabwe by 158 Runs as Bangladesh Face Final Pressure

Afghanistan have made a flying start to the ongoing triangular one-day series in the United Arab Emirates, thrashing Zimbabwe by a massive 158 runs in their opening match. A superb century from Sediqullah Atal and the spin of leg-spinner Rashid Khan overwhelmed Zimbabwe.

The big win has also heaped pressure on Bangladesh. Tawhid Hridoy's Bangladesh were already on the back foot after losing their first match to Zimbabwe by 99 runs. Afghanistan's huge margin has made the net run-rate equation far tougher, and Bangladesh must now beat Afghanistan by a big margin in their final league match to reach the final.

Sent in to bat after losing the toss, Afghanistan attacked from the start. Fluent batting from openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran took the team past fifty in only the seventh over.

Gurbaz departed for 25 with the score on 50, bringing Atal to the crease. Zadran and Atal then built a fine 140-run second-wicket partnership that laid the foundation of a big total.

Zadran made 90 off 96 balls with nine fours and two sixes before falling to Brad Evans — stopped in the nineties for the fourth time in his career, so close to a century yet unable to reach three figures.

Atal held firm after Zadran's dismissal and completed his century, departing for 102 with the team score on 259.

A dramatic collapse followed Atal's exit. Afghanistan lost their last five batters adding only 35 runs in the final 5.2 overs and were bowled out for 294 in 49.4 overs. For Zimbabwe, Ernest Masuku took three wickets for 44 runs and Brad Evans three for 47.

Chasing a tough 295, Zimbabwe ran into the Afghan bowling attack immediately and lost four top-order wickets for just 43 runs, plunging into deep trouble.

Captain Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl resisted with a 64-run fifth-wicket stand, but Burl's dismissal for 31 in the 32nd over broke the resistance, and Raza followed as the innings' top scorer with 48.

Rashid Khan then single-handedly demolished the lower order. Zimbabwe lost their last six wickets for only 29 runs and were bowled out for 136 in 38.4 overs. Rashid took four wickets for just 17 runs in eight overs, while pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi took two for 15.

Had Zimbabwe scored at least 196, their place in the final would have been confirmed. Failing that, the road to the final remains open for all three teams.

The final league match has now become the most important of the series. Bangladesh have virtually no path to the final without a big win over Afghanistan, while the Afghans will want to carry this momentum and book their final place directly.