The Bangladesh vs Afghanistan 1st T20I turned out to be a nerve-wracking encounter. Afghan pacer Karim Janat turned the game on its head in the last over but it was not enough to stop Bangladesh from registering a narrow two-wicket win with one ball to spare in the first T20I at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on July 14.
Bangladesh lost three wickets in first seven overs and failed to take advantage of fielding restrictions in the run chase. Shkaib Al Hasan got off to a good start but could not convert it into a big score. At 64/4, Bangladesh needed a partnership as the required run rate reached nine runs per over. The partnership between Towhid Hridoy and Shamim Hossain stabilised the run chase. In the 18th over, Rashid Khan broke the partnership with the wicket of Shamim Hossain who scored 33 runs from 25 balls.
The wicket got Afghan players tails up. In the final over, they needed six runs to win. Mehidy Hasan Miraz hit a boundary first ball to release the pressure. Then Miraz got out after playing it straight to Mohammad Nabi. Taskin Ahmed slashed but got a thin edge which carried to Rahmanullah Gurbaz's gloves. Nasum Ahmed went for the big shot but the top-edge went to third man fielder's hands. On the last two balls, Bangladesh needed two runs. Shoriful Islam held on to his nerves and played a cut shot through point beating sweeper cover to take his team home with a boundary. Hridoy remained unbeaten for 47 off 32 balls including three fours and two sixes.
Earlier, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and elected to field first. Afghanistan lost three wickets in five overs. Experienced campaigner Mohammad Nabi soaked up the pressure despite wickets falling from the other end. Nabi scored a half-century and had support from Azmatullah Omarzai who contributed with an 18-ball 33 cameo. Nabi remained unbeaten for 54 off 40 balls to take Afghanistan to a fighting total of 154/7. His knock included six fours and one six.
“We had the belief, all our tailenders can bat. It was Shoriful's turn today but Miraz could have finished it. That's funny but makes it more exciting for the crowd and that's how T20 goes,” Shakib said in the post-match presentation.
Jant is the second Afghan bowler to take a hat-trick in T20Is. Before him Rashid took a double hat-trick against Ireland in 2019.
MORE ON SPORTSTAK:
BCCI announces India's tour of South Africa, here's the full schedule
