Tigers win a thriller against Afghan in 1st T20I
Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh registered a thrilling two-wicket victory over Afghanistan in their first Twenty20 International (T20I) at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Sent into bat first, Afghanistan scored a fighting total of 154 for the loss of seven wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
In reply, Bangladesh reached the winning spot making 157 for the loss of eight wickets when they had just one ball to spare.
Bangladesh had a sorrow start as opener Rony Talukder (4) was bowled out by Fazalhaq Farooqi when the hosts’ score was five.
One-down Najmul Hossain Shanto (14) was bowled out by Mujeeb Ur Rahman when the Tigers’ total was 30 for the loss of two wickets.
Opener Litton Das (18) was caught at the mid-off by Rashid Khan off Azmatullah Omarzai when Bangladesh’s score was 39 for the loss of three wickets.
Second-down Shakib Al Hasan ( 19) was caught at the cover by Karim Janat off Fareed Ahmed when the home side’s total was 64 for the loss of four wickets.
Then, Towhid Hridoy and Shamim Hossain put on together 73 runs in the fifth wicket stand before Shamim Hossain was caught behind by wicketkeeper Rahmatullah Gurbaz when Bangladesh’s score was 137 for the loss of five wickets.
Later, Karim Janat scored a hat-trick as he picked up the wickets of Mehidy Hasan Miraz (8), Taskin Ahmed (0) and Nasum Ahmed (0) in his second, third and fourth deliveries of his second over.
After Nasum’s departure, Bangladesh needed two runs in two deliveries. Shoriful Islam hit a boundary in the fifth delivery of Janat’s second over and helped his side to earn the much-awaited victory.
Hridoy remained unbeaten with 47 runs. His 32-ball innings was laced with two sixes and three fours. He was adjudged the Man of the Match for his terrific batting display.
Shamim made 33 from 25 deliveries with four fours.
Karim Janat was his team’s most successful bowler with three wickets in the space of 15 runs.
Afghanistan faced a debacle as they lost their early four wickets for 52 runs.
Mohammad Nabi and Najibullah Zadran mended their innings adding together 35 runs for the fifth wicket partnership before Najibullah Zadran was caught behind by wicketkeeper Litton Das off Mehidy Hasan Miraz when Afghanistan’s score was 87 for the loss of seven wickets.
After Najibullah’s departure, Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai built another notable partnership scoring together 56 runs in the six-wicket stand before Omarzai was caught by Taskin Ahmed off Shakib Al Hasan when the visitors’ total was 143 for the loss of six wickets.
Mohammad Nabi remained unbeaten with 54 runs. His 40-ball innings was laced with six fours and a sixer.
Omarzai made 33 from 18 deliveries with four shots over the ropes.
Najibullah hit a run-a-ball 23 including three fours.
Shakib Al Hasan bagged a pair of wickets in the space of 27 runs, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Mustafizur Rahman took one wicket each for 13, 20, 29, 30 and 31 runs respectively.
