Azmatullah Omarzai starred with the bat and ball for Afghanistan as they cruised to a five-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first match of their ODI series on Wednesday. 

Omarzai took figures of 3-40 to skittle Bangladesh out for 221 before plundering 40 runs from 44 deliveries to help his side bounce back from their recent T20I series defeat. 

Tanzid Hasan (10) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (two) fell inside the first six overs to Omarzai before Rashid Khan got in on the act to remove Saif Hassan (26) soon after. 

But Tawhid Hridoy and Mehidy Hasan turned the tide for Bangladesh, putting on a 101-run fourth-wicket stand before the former was run out by Hashmatullah Shahidi. 

Mehidy soon fell lbw to Rashid for 60, with Jaker Ali (10) and Nurul Hasan (seven) quickly following him back to the pavilion in the same way, by the same bowler. 

Afghanistan began their reply brightly, with Ibrahim Zadran striking the first three boundaries before Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit Taskin Ahmed (0-50) for six early in the chase. 

The opening pair raced to a 50-run stand in the ninth over before Tanvir Islam broke through with the wicket of Zadran (23), with Sediquallah Atal (five) then quickly dismissed. 

However, Afghanistan landed in the safe hands of captain Shahidi and Omarzai, with the dynamic duo adding 59 runs between them for the fifth wicket to put them in control. 

Omarzai left with the team needing 27 runs to win in the last seven overs, and Mohammad Nabi sealed the win for Afghanistan with 17 balls of their innings remaining. 

𝐀𝐟𝐠𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐢𝐧! #AfghanAtalan have put on a clinical batting performance to chase down the target and beat Bangladesh by 5 wickets in the first match of the Etisalat Cup ODI Series. #AFGvBAN2025 | #GloriousNationVictoriousTeam pic.twitter.com/LOgPN3TR4e

— Afghanistan Cricket Board (@ACBofficials) October 8, 2025

Data Debrief: Day of milestones for Afghanistan

After suffering a series whitewash against Bangladesh in their recent T20I matches, Afghanistan responded in style here, with plenty of their players hitting impressive landmarks. 

Indeed, Rashid became the first player from Afghanistan to reach 200 wickets in ODIs. 

Rahmat Shah, meanwhile, scored a half-century, seeing him take his tally to 4,000 runs in the format, also the first player from his nation to reach that milestone.