Shakib Al Hasan and Taskin Ahmed lead Bangladesh to 2-0 collection sweep
Bangladesh 119 for 4 (Litton 35, Afif 24, Omarzai 2-17) beat Afghanistan 116 for 7 (Omarzai 25, Zadran 22, Taskin 3-33, Shakib 2-15) by six wickets
(DLS technique)
Some fashionable T20I cricket from Bangladesh helped them to their first bilateral T20I series win towards Afghanistan, with a six-wicket win within the rain-hit second recreation in Sylhet. A mix of tremendous new-ball bowling from Taskin Ahmed and a quickfire batting powerplay show by Litton Das and Afif Hossain did the trick, Bangladesh finally knocking off a revised goal of 119 from 17 overs with 5 balls to spare.
Against Afghanistan, Bangladesh had beforehand misplaced a T20I collection in 2018 in Dehradun and tied a two-match collection at house final yr. Along with setting this document straight, they’ve additionally maintained their excellent 2023 in T20Is: they’ve won all three bilateral series they’ve performed within the shortest format this yr, having overwhelmed England 3-0 and Ireland 2-1 in March.
Today, it was Taskin who obtained them off to a fiery begin.
Taskin’s red-hot begin
In the primary over, Rahmanullah Gurbaz high edged a brief one from Taskin Ahmed for six, however Taskin hurried him as soon as once more with a brief ball the very subsequent supply, and this time took the skier on provide himself. The wicket was Taskin’s fiftieth in T20Is, making him the third to reach this mark from Bangladesh after Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman. Gurbaz’s opening companion Hazratullah Zazai adopted him within the third over after Taskin had him caught behind for 4, an tried steer via deep third not coming off.
Afghanistan slip after the rain
Soon after, rain compelled an extended break of 98 minutes and the sport was diminished to 17 overs a aspect. It gave Afghanistan, who had already batted 7.2 overs, lower than ten overs to submit an honest whole. Mohammad Nabi, who made a fifty within the first T20I, nonetheless seemed anxious on the crease and could not get going. He was fortunate too, when Shakib at cowl and wicketkeeper Litton dropped him off consecutive balls within the ninth over, when he was on 15. Nasum Ahmed was the unfortunate bowler.
Mustafizur eliminated Nabi within the subsequent over for 16, earlier than Shakib had Ibrahim Zadran caught at long-on for 22 and Najibullah Zadran bowled for 5 in the identical over. Allrounders Azmatullah Omarzai and Karim Janat obtained away three fours and two sixes throughout their sixth-wicket stand of 42 and seemed like their may present Afghanistan with the surge they very a lot wanted, however the Bangladesh bowlers fought again fantastically. They conceded only one boundary (a six) within the final three overs, whereas accounting for each the allrounders – Omarzai fell to Mustafizur and Janat to Taskin.
Quick begin powers Bangladesh
Litton welcomed Fazalhaq Farooqi with a straight drive and a swivel pull within the first over of their 119-run chase. It was a uncommon burst towards Farooqi, who has largely bossed powerplays within the white-ball codecs.
Litton then laid into debutant Wafadar Momand, hitting him for 3 consecutive fours within the subsequent over: he began off with a splendid sq. minimize, adopted by an out of doors edge over the slips, after which a shocking backfoot punch via the covers. Momand went for 19 runs in his first over in T20I cricket.
Litton dished out harsh remedy to Mujeeb Ur Rahman as properly, clipping him first ball for 4 via fine-leg, earlier than Afif lofted him for six over mid-off in his subsequent over. They grew to become the primary Bangladeshi opening pair so as to add 50 runs in T20Is towards Afghanistan, as Bangladesh rocketed alongside, attending to 61 for no loss in seven overs.
Afghanistan hit again with three wickets
A good over from Rashid Khan and a one-run effort from Omarzai adopted. Litton performed out 5 dots in that eighth over and took a single final ball, solely to fall to Mujeeb first ball of the ninth, caught brilliantly within the covers by Rashid. Afif adopted Litton simply two balls later, holing out at deep midwicket.
Omarzai then yorked Najmul Hossain Shanto within the subsequent over. At that time Bangladesh wanted solely an additional 43 runs from 36 balls however that they had misplaced three wickets for 9 runs in two overs. Towhid Hridoy and Shakib had been the brand new batters, and as they took a little bit of time to get their eye in, immediately Bangladesh wanted eight per over within the final 5 overs.
Shakib ensures comfy win
The in-form Hridoy hit Mujeeb for a 4 over cowl subsequent over. It was Bangladesh’s first boundary because the seventh over, a niche of 30 balls. Shakib edged Mujeeb for a 4, and 12 runs got here off the over. Shakib launched Rashid for a six within the subsequent over and it was all the way down to a run a ball wanted.
When Hridoy slammed Omarzai for a primary six, over deep sq., Bangladesh wanted 12 off 16. But he threw it away subsequent ball, toe-ending a catch to mid-off for 19. Shakib and Shamim Hossain ensured no extra injury, Shamim pulling Wafadar for 4 to tick off the successful runs first ball of the ultimate over.
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84