Opener Ibrahim Zadran’s unbeaten 41 led Afghanistan to a 17-run victory over Bangladesh on the DLS method in a rain-affected first one-day international in Chittagong on Wednesday.
Play was halted due to rain at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium after Afghanistan reached 83-2 in 21.4 overs while chasing a target of 164 runs in 43 overs.
Left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi played a key role in the win with figures of 3-24 as Afghanistan restricted Bangladesh to 169-9 before the visitors were given a revised target in heavily overcast conditions.
Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz shared a 54-run opening partnership to deny Bangladesh an early breakthrough.
Shakib Al Hasan dismissed Gurbaz for 22, while Taskin Ahmed removed Rahmat Shah for eight, slowing down Afghanistan’s progress.
Afghanistan was set a revised target of 111 runs in 29 overs after rain interrupted play for the third time.
However, another spell of rain led the match officials to call off the game, declaring Afghanistan as the winners as they required 67 runs to win at that stage according to the DLS method.
Leg-spinner Rashid Khan and off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman claimed 2-21 and 2-23 respectively, complementing Farooqi and keeping Bangladesh in check after rain disrupted their innings twice.
Rookie batsman Towhid Hridoy top-scored with 51 for Bangladesh, who struggled for momentum ever since Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to bowl first.
The hosts were 84-3 in 15.1 overs when rain halted the game for the first time, with the top three batsmen — Tamim Iqbal (13), Liton Das (26), and Najmul Hossain (12) — all dismissed.
Azmatullah Omarzai dismissed Shakib for 15 after the resumption, and Rashid quickly took two wickets to derail the home side.
Rashid bowled Mushfiqur Rahim for one and had Afif Hossain leg-before for four three overs later.
Farooqi trapped Mehidy Hasan Miraz leg-before for five before rain delayed play once again, with Bangladesh struggling at 144-7 off 34.3 overs.
Towhid completed his third fifty in seven ODIs after play restarted but then fell to Farooqi in the same over.
Afghanistan, who lost their previous two ODI series in Bangladesh, can secure an insurmountable lead in the three-match series at the same venue on Saturday.
