Afghanistan whitewash Netherlands in ODI series

KABUL (Pajhwok): Afghanistan have made a clean swept of the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against the Netherlands.

In the final ODI in Doha on Tuesday, Afghanistan trounced the opposition by 75 runs. Najibullah and Hassan shone with the willow, guiding their side to an emphatic win.

Opting to bat after winning the toss, Afghanistan posted a total of 254, with Najibullah smashing 71 and Hassan contributing 50, according to the news website ESPNcricinfo.

Afghanistan lost their in-form opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz (12) in the tenth over, but Hassan reached a 72-ball fifty in the 27th over.

As Hassan departed in the next over, Rahmat Shah (48), Hashmatullah Shahidi (28) and Najibullah (71) held together Afghanistan’s innings.

Set a target of 255, the Netherlands took a flying start, with Scott Edwards hitting 54) and Colin Ackermann 81. They put on a 103-run opening partnership.

However, the Dutch batting collapsed like a house of cards as leg-spinners Rashid Khan and Qais Ahmad struck at regular intervals.

From 103 without loss, the Netherlands were skittled out for 179. Rashid bagged two wickets for 37 while Qais captured three for 32.

As a result of the clean sweep, Afghanistan earned the full 30 points from the three-match ODI series.

PAN Monitor/mud

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