KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan sealed a historic 3-0 ODI series whitewash over Bangladesh with a crushing 200-run victory in the third and final match in Abu Dhabi.

After posting a commanding 293 for 9, the Afghans bowled out Bangladesh for just 93, completing a clean sweep that mirrored Bangladesh's earlier 3-0 win in the T20I series.

Ibrahim Zadran and Mohammad Nabi laid the foundation for Afghanistan's imposing total with composed half-centuries, before young seamer Bilal Sami claimed his maiden five-wicket haul.

As so often, it was Rashid Khan who ripped through Bangladesh's middle order, taking three wickets in his first three overs to trigger a collapse.

Bangladesh's batting once again failed to find any rhythm, continuing their series-long struggles. Mohammad Naim scratched around for 23 balls before edging Azmatullah Omarzai to slip for 7, and from there, the procession began.

Only Saif Hassan offered any resistance, striking a few crisp boundaries in the powerplay, including two sixes and a four. But wickets kept tumbling around him-Najmul Hossain Shanto's miserable run continued when Sami bowled him off an inside edge, and from then on, Bangladesh never recovered.

Rashid's entrance turned the innings into a rout. Towhid Hridoy was undone by a sharp googly first ball, and Saif himself fell next over to another googly, bowled for a valiant 43 off 54 balls with two fours and three sixes.

Sami continued to run through the lower order, dismissing Mehidy Hasan Miraz caught behind for 6, before Shamim Hossain was run out the very next ball.

Rashid trapped Nurul Hasan lbw to claim his third wicket in as many overs, and Sami cleaned up the tail to finish with figures of 5 for 19, sealing Bangladesh's humiliation in just 28 overs.

Earlier, Afghanistan's innings was powered by a 99-run opening stand between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. Gurbaz blazed away with 42 off 45 balls, while Zadran anchored the innings with another fluent fifty. Together with Sediqullah Atal, Zadran added 74 more for the second wicket to take Afghanistan to 173 for 1 in the 32nd over.

A brief wobble followed as Saif Hassan, turning his arm over as a part-time offspinner, grabbed three wickets in four overs to peg Afghanistan back. From 173 for 1, they slipped to 188 for 5.

Azmatullah Omarzai's brief cameo helped steady things, but it was Mohammad Nabi who provided the finishing flourish.

With Afghanistan at 249 for 9 in the 48th over, Nabi suddenly shifted gears. After Nahid Rana left the field mid-over, Mehidy Hasan Miraz completed it-and Nabi pounced, smashing three sixes in four balls.

He followed that up by taking 19 off the final over from Hasan Mahmud, finishing unbeaten on 58 off 41 deliveries. Afghanistan plundered 44 runs in the last two overs, setting up a total far beyond Bangladesh's reach.

With this emphatic 200-run triumph, Afghanistan not only secured a memorable series whitewash but also underscored their growing stature in world cricket-built on sharp bowling, composed batting, and relentless belief.

sa

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