Mahmudullah Riyad missed out on a well-deserved century

Bangladesh once again found themselves in a precarious situation, but this time they managed to avoid an early collapse. After a strong start, they had lost four wickets for just 72 runs, but a gritty 145-run partnership between Mahmudullah Riyad and Mehidy Hasan Miraz helped steady the ship. Bangladesh eventually posted 244 runs on the board, a competitive total, but there was disappointment in the air.

Mahmudullah Riyad, who was just two runs away from his fifth career ODI century, was run out on the last ball of the innings, having scored 98 off 98 balls. With the score at 244 and needing just three runs for a century, Riyad's attempt to hit a boundary ended in disappointment as he failed to find the ropes, leaving him stranded just shy of the milestone. It was a bitter moment for the veteran batter, who had fought hard to lead his team out of a difficult situation.

Riyad's 98-run knock came after a string of low scores in this series—just 2 and 3 runs in the previous two matches—proving that he still has the temperament to perform in pressure situations. His innings was composed, playing the anchor role while Miraz supported him from the other end. Together, they gave Bangladesh a fighting chance.

However, there was also an element of regret for Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai, who was one wicket away from a historic five-wicket haul. The Afghan pacer had already achieved a career-best bowling figure by dismissing Nasum Ahmed to claim four wickets. But despite his efforts, he fell just short of claiming a five-wicket haul when Mahmudullah was run out off the last ball of the innings.

Earlier, after a solid start from the openers, Bangladesh's batting line-up suffered another collapse. They had been cruising at 53/0, but within the space of three overs, they were reduced to 58/3, as both openers, Soumya Sarkar and Tanzid Hasan Tamim, fell cheaply, followed by the run out of Zakir Hasan.

It was a crucial moment in the match, and it was Mahmudullah and Miraz who lifted the team with a stellar 145-run partnership for the fifth wicket. They batted sensibly, rotating the strike and punishing the bad deliveries, with both players reaching their fifties. Miraz scored 66 from 106 balls, while Mahmudullah’s knock was a masterclass in resilience, even though he fell just short of a century.

Despite their efforts, Bangladesh’s innings ended at 244, a score that seemed unlikely at one point. Afghanistan, with their bowlers led by Omarzai, will be disappointed with their inability to finish strongly, while Bangladesh will be left to reflect on their batting inconsistencies.

This match is crucial for Bangladesh to secure a series victory. Having won the second ODI by 68 runs, they can win the series with a victory here. A loss, however, would mean a consecutive series defeat against Afghanistan, a bitter pill after losing 2-1 in the 2023 home series.

With the series hanging in the balance, Bangladesh will need a strong performance with the ball to defend their total of 244, while Afghanistan will look to recover from the near-miss with the ball and chase down the target to level the series.