Sports Reporter :
The Tigers whitewashed the Afghanistan by 2-0 in the two-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series crushing the tourists by six wickets (according to the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern Method) in a rain-interrupted second T20I match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Batting first, Afghanistan scored 116 for the loss of seven wickets in 17 overs (three overs were curtailed due to rain).
Then, Bangladesh had a revised target of 119 in 17 overs.
The Tigers romped home making exact 119 for the loss of four wickets when the had five balls to spare.
Bangladesh had a good start with two openers Litton Das and Afif Hossain put on together 67 runs in the opening stand before Litton Das was caught at the short extra cover by Rashid Khan off Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Litton Das hit a fine 35. His 36-ball innings was laced with six fours.
After Litton’s dismissal, Afif could stay at the crease for a short period as he was caught at the deep midwicket by Karim Janat off Mujeeb Ur Rahman when Bangladesh’s score was 68 for the loss of two wickets.
Afif scored 24 from 20 deliveries including two sixes.
Najmul Hossain Shanto (4) was bowled out by Azmatullah Omarzai when the hosts’ total was 76 for the loss of three wickets.
After Afif’s dismissal, Towhid Hridoy and Shakib Al Hasan built a worthy partnership scoring together 31 runs in the four-wicket stand before Hridoy was caught at the mid-off by Mohammad Nabi off Azmatullah Omarzai when Bangladesh’s total was 107 for the loss of four wickets.
Then, Shakib Al Hasan and Shamim Hossain guided their team to anchor the winning spot.
Shakib Al Hasan remained unbeaten with 18 runs. He hit one six and one four in his 11-ball innings. Shakib Al Hasan was adjudged the Man of the Match for his all-round performance.
Shamim Hossain remained unbeaten with seven runs.
Taskin Ahmed gave his team early breakthrough as opener Rahmtaullah Gurbaz (8) was caught & bowled by the right-arm pacer when Afghanistan’s score was just nine.
Taskin Ahmed struck again as Hazaratullah Zazai (4), the other opener was caught & bowled by the right-arm pacer when the tourists’ total was 16 for the loss of two wickets.
One-down Ibrahim Zadran and second-down Mohammad Nabi mended their innings adding together 32 runs in the third-wicket stand before Mohammad Nabi (16) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Litton Das off Mustafizur Rahman when Afghanistan’s score was 48 for the loss of three wickets.
Ibrahim Zadran was caught at the long-on by Afif Hossain off Shakib Al Hasan when the visitors’ total was 62 for the loss of four wickets.
Ibrahim Zadran scored 22 from 27 deliveries with one four and one six.
Najibullah Zadran (5) was bowled out by Shakib Al Hasan when Afghanistan’s score was 67 for the loss of five wickets.
Fouth-down Azmatullah Omarzai and Karim Janat built another notable partnership scoring together 42 runs for the sixth wicket partnership before Omarzai was caught at the third man by Shamim Hossain off Mustafizur Rahman when the touring sides total was 109 for the loss of six wickets.
Omarzai made 25 from 21 balls including two fours and a sixer.
Karim Janat was caught at the long-on by Najmul Hossain Shanto off Taskin Ahmed when the visitors’ score was 109 for the loss of seven wickets.
Taskin Ahmed grabbed three wickets in the space of 33 runs, while Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman bagged two wickets each instead of 15 and 30 runs respectively.
