Towhid Hridoy hit his third ODI fifty that powered Bangladesh to 169-9 in a rain interrupted 43 over first of the three one-day internationals against Afghanistan at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram on Wednesday.

Now as per the D/L method, Afghanistan need 164 runs to win in the stipulated overs. 

With Towhid making a 69-ball 51 and the next highest 26 coming from Liton Das, allowed the home side to manage a humble total. 

Left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi was the standout bowler for the visitors claiming 3-24 while Rashid Khan, Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman took two apiece and Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi finished with one wicket each. 

Sent to bat, Bangladesh made a steady start making 30 within seven overs. 

However, the hosts lost their momentum after their seasoned campaigner Tamim Iqbal was dismissed by Farooqi for 13. 

In the second wicket stand Liton and Najmul Hossain Shanto added 35 runs to stitch the innings before Mujeeb had the former in his second delivery of the twelfth over. 

However, in the next stand Shakib Al Hasan and Towhid formed the highest 37 run partnership, prior to the exclusion of the former for 15 by Omarzai.

Then banking on Towhid’s half century Bangladesh propelled it to the moderate total.