10:30pm Shahidi accepts the trophy from the dignitaries and then goes over to his teammates to celebrate. Afghanistan are a picture of joy and they look like a team that knows it can ruffle feathers whenever and wherever it plays. And on that note, our coverage for the series also comes to an end. We hope you enjoyed it just as much as we loved bringing it to you. Lots of cricket lined up elsewhere and you can stay updated with all of it on ESPNcricinfo. Until next time, from Himanshu, Thilak, Vairavan and myself, this is goodbye!

Mohammad Nabi, Player of the Series: In my mind, from last World Cup, I was retired but then we qualified for the Champions Trophy and I felt if I can play that, it will be great. (On his role) Small contributions from my side for the youngsters will be great insight. Most of the time, I will speak with Ghazanfar, Kharote on what speeds to bowl and that helps a lot. In the last season, I did not do well with the bat. But I worked harder before the series and it was my target to perform in this series (with the bat). Great to perform for my team. Spoke to Omarzai about just taking singles. Wicket was easy and ball was coming on. So, (was speaking about) watching the ball, playing straight and that the boundaries will come.

Azmatullah Omarzai, Player of the Match: (What was going through his mind when batting) I want to thank the almighty. It was tough for me after two bad games. I was positive and was trying to hit the ball where I wanted to hit. Gurbaz was there, so I was confident. Even if I miss a few balls, I did not care because he could cover (for me) anytime. Whenever I got loose balls, I tried to (score boundaries). (On his bowling) The wicket was slow, the ball was sticking. So, I tried to use my variations. I was speaking to Rashid and he told me to bowl a mix of deliveries. (On bowling at the death) It was tough for me, because I have never bowled in the last few overs. It means a lot (to win this award). It is my first POTM award in ODIs and I am really happy.

Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afghanistan captain: Very happy as a captain. The way my team performed, proud of the team. When we lost the toss, it was a little disappointing. If you see the behaviour of the pitch in the second innings, batting is difficult. But the way our boys took responsibility, and the way Gurbaz, Omarzai and Nabi did, I am really proud of them. (On Gurbaz's hundred) I think he is the match-winner player. Whenever he scores runs, he did a lot for our team. Very happy for him. He is very talented and hopefully he can take that momentum to the next series and also the Champions Trophy. (On three consecutive ODI series wins) The way we are playing right now is very good. If you see, everyone is performing in every game. Different guys performing and that is good for the team. We will try our best to make our team stronger. We have Zimbabwe next and that is our next target and we want to go with good momentum to the Champions Trophy.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Bangladesh captain: It was a tough job. The boys played really well, especially the partnership between Mahmudullah and me. We saw in the last two matches that the wicket was spinning and that is why we wanted to bat (first). Some dew is coming (tonight), so ball is coming too easy. Credit goes to them, they played really well, especially Gurbaz and Omarzai. We did not take wickets in the middle overs. (On Nahid Rana) He is playing well.

10:11pm Stick around, folks. We should hear from the captains, the Player of the Match and the Player of the Series soon.

Azweer : "So proud of you Afghanistan... Congratulations..."

10:03pm Wow, a tense and nervy game of cricket. It ebbed one way, then threatened to flow the other. But all things considered, Afghanistan probably had things under control from the moment Gurbaz and Omarzai got together. The former managed his eighth ODI hundred and set the foundation for the run-chase before Omarzai, under immense pressure, kept his calm and sealed the deal. A word of appreciation for Nabi too, who used every bit of his experience to outfox Bangladesh and find the fence whenever his team needed and wanted him to.

Bangladesh gave it their all, and them losing this game was probably not for a lack of effort. Rana, on debut, bowled his heart out and had the Afghanistan batters hopping around on what was not a very fast surface. Nasum was quite economical too, but they were probably left ruing Shoriful's inability to keep things as tight, with Mustafizur and Mehidy also conceding more runs than they would have liked. And if you go a little further back, they might look at how many they scored and if they could have gone a little quicker a little earlier in their batting innings.

This result means that Afghanistan have now won three ODI series in a row. Bangladesh still have work to do before the Champions Trophy rolls in early next year but this series will have given them enough to cling on to, and enough to take confidence from.

48.2
6
Shoriful Islam to Azmatullah Omarzai, SIX, start the tuk-tuk, we are outta here! Afghanistan have sizzled their way to another series win in the desert, and have razed Bangladesh into the turf in the final ODI, winning this series in spectacular fashion! Slot ball on off and guess what happens to those - they go miles. Omarzai gets his front foot out of the way and clatters it over long on. Lets out a huge roar of celebration - he has been front and centre of this run-chase in the last ten overs and he was the man to land the coup de grâce! Spare a thought for Bangladesh too. They fought and fought and fought, but in the end, they just did not have enough to play with!
48.1
1
Shoriful Islam to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, back of a length on off. Nabi looks to finish it with one blow but only gets it as far as his back thigh. The ball rolls away towards point for a single

Six needed off the last two overs. Shoriful to bowl

END OF OVER:
48 | 10 Runs | AFG: 239/5 (6 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 4.97, RRR: 3.00)

  • Azmatullah Omarzai64 (76b)
  • Mohammad Nabi33 (26b)
  • Mustafizur Rahman9-0-50-2
  • Nahid Rana10-1-40-2
47.6
0
Mustafizur Rahman to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, hard length on leg stump. Bounces a touch extra and gets big on Omarzai, who fends it towards the bowler

Afghanistan one hit away now

47.5
1
Mustafizur Rahman to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, back of a length just outside off. Nabi taps it down the ground and ambles across to the other end
47.4
4
Mustafizur Rahman to Mohammad Nabi, FOUR, dumped away with absolute disdain! Mustafizur looks for some magic with his off-cutter but this sits up nicely outside off. Nabi reads the variation like the morning daily and blasts it through square leg!
47.3
4
Mustafizur Rahman to Mohammad Nabi, FOUR, streaky but they all count! Afghanistan doing it at a canter now! Off-cutter, bowled full just outside off. Nabi looks to go downtown and ends up slicing it over backward point. He will not mind that one bit!
47.2
1
Mustafizur Rahman to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, short and wide outside off. Omarzai has a massive swish at it and the ball flies off the outside edge towards third man. Rana dives snappily to his left and saves three
47.1
0
Mustafizur Rahman to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, slower bumper outside off. Omarzai picks it early enough and is happy to let it go

16 off 18. Less than run-a-ball needed. Very much Afghanistan's game to lose now

END OF OVER:
47 | 10 Runs | AFG: 229/5 (16 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 4.87, RRR: 5.33)

  • Mohammad Nabi24 (23b)
  • Azmatullah Omarzai63 (73b)
  • Nahid Rana10-1-40-2
  • Mustafizur Rahman8-0-40-2
46.6
0
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Nabi, no run, back of a length on leg stump. Nabi, having moved across, plays all over it and gets pinged on the thigh pad. Rana appeals but that might fall into the 'highly optimistic and wishful' category
46.5
4
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Nabi, FOUR, crrrrrrrrunnnnnncccchhhhhhhhhh! Not a half-volley but it is full enough outside off. Nabi transfers his weight forward, gets his hands through the ball and creams it past extra cover. No one moved, apart from the boundary cushion when the ball thudded into it!
46.4
1
Nahid Rana to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, angled in full on off. Omarzai tips it to mid off and then scampers across to the other end
46.3
1
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, full and wide outside off. Nabi throws the plumbing at it and slices it towards deep point
46.2
0
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Nabi, no run, slightly fuller on middle and leg and Nabi cannot get under this. Works it towards mid wicket and that is a vital dot
46.1
4
Nahid Rana to Mohammad Nabi, FOUR, when the going gets tough, Nabi gets going! Goes for the yorker that tails into leg stump. Falls a touch short, though, and ventures into Nabi's arc. He snaps his wrists into the stroke and pumps it over mid on!

Right. Here's Rana. Can he break this game open one final time? 26 off 24

END OF OVER:
46 | 7 Runs | AFG: 219/5 (26 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 4.76, RRR: 6.50)

  • Mohammad Nabi15 (18b)
  • Azmatullah Omarzai62 (72b)
  • Mustafizur Rahman8-0-40-2
  • Mehidy Hasan Miraz10-0-56-1
45.6
1
Mustafizur Rahman to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, back of a length just outside off. Nabi stabs it back towards the bowler, who gets a hand to it and takes the pace off. Nabi wants the single and Omarzai ultimately obliges
45.5
2
Mustafizur Rahman to Mohammad Nabi, 2 runs, leading edge, but safe! Cutter on a back of a length on middle stump. Deviates away and turns Nabi inside out. He was looking to work to leg but the ball ends up looping past backward point. Gets a brace for his troubles
45.4
1
Mustafizur Rahman to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, fuller and wider outside off. Omarzai laces it down the ground to long off
45.3
1
Mustafizur Rahman to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, fullish outside off. Nabi transfers his weight forward and knocks it to long off
45.2
1
Mustafizur Rahman to Azmatullah Omarzai, 1 run, shortish outside off. Omarzai punches it neatly towards deep point

Bhaskar: "Great to see a nervy chase like this, make you feel like the 90's."

45.1
1
Mustafizur Rahman to Mohammad Nabi, 1 run, length outside off. Nabi hangs back and drives on the up towards deep cover point. No real foot movement, all hands

33 off 30. Situation still under control from an Afghanistan POV. Mustafizur has three left, though, and he will bowl one of them now

END OF OVER:
45 | 7 Runs | AFG: 212/5 (33 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 4.71, RRR: 6.60)

  • Azmatullah Omarzai60 (70b)
  • Mohammad Nabi10 (14b)
  • Mehidy Hasan Miraz10-0-56-1
  • Shoriful Islam8-0-54-0
44.6
0
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, length on off. Omarzai presses half forward before turning it towards mid wicket
44.5
0
Mehidy Hasan Miraz to Azmatullah Omarzai, no run, fuller and flatter on the stumps. Omarzai is happy to block

Afghanistan 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st41Rahmanullah GurbazSediqullah Atal
2nd22Rahmat ShahRahmanullah Gurbaz
3rd21Hashmatullah ShahidiRahmanullah Gurbaz
4th100Azmatullah OmarzaiRahmanullah Gurbaz
5th4Gulbadin NaibAzmatullah Omarzai
6th58Mohammad NabiAzmatullah Omarzai