Afghanistan defeated hosts Bangladesh comprehensively by 25 runs during their tri-nation T20I series match at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla national cricket stadium Sunday.
Chasing 165, Bangladesh were bundled out on 139 runs in 19.5 overs. Mahmudullah was the top scorer for Tigers with 44 run while Sabbir Rahman made 24.
Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the star performer with the ball as he grabbed four wickets conceding just 15 runs while their veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, who was adjudged man of the match, made a stellar performance with the bat as he made a swashbuckling 84 off 54 just deliveries.
Bangladesh lost by 25 runs#BCB #BANvAFG pic.twitter.com/egP0Vo8j8W
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 15, 2019
Mushfiq opens but Mujeeb runs havoc on Tigers top-order
Bangladesh adopted a surprising strategy by sending Mushfiqur Rahim to open the innings with Liton Kumar Das. But that plan did not work as Bangladesh lost four quick wickets within five overs. Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb was the main destroyer in opening spell as he picked three wickets in his first spell of three overs. Liton got out in the second ball of the innings against Mujeeb making a top edge in cover region. Tigers skipper Shakib al Hasan also got out after getting a top edge on mid wicket against Mujeeb and number five batsman Soumya was trapped plumb in front in the first ball he faced. And make-shift opener Mushfiq also got out playing a horrible shot, trying to play a scoop shot in second over of the innings and get bowled.
Tiger’s late middle order fails to respond
After losing four wickets in first five over Bangladesh were in back foot and they never really recovered from the set back. Experienced Mahmudullah and Sabbi Rahman formed a 58-run partnership in fifth wicket but Afghanistan bowlers kept good line and length and did not give any extra runs. After Mahmudullah (44 off 39 balls) and Sabbir R (24 off 27 balls) went back to pavilion the Tigers were reduced to 95 for 6 and Afghan were on top. Last match’s hero Afif Hossin and Mosaddek Hossin could not repeat any heroic this time as the scored only 16 and 12 respectively. Eventually Bangladesh were bowled out on 139 and felt short. Mujeeb picked up his career best bowling figure while Rashid Khan and Gulbadan Naib picked up two wickets each.
Opener #Mushfiq gets bowled while trying to play scoop shot https://t.co/qmiCeS8BEZ
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) September 15, 2019
Bangladesh hold back Afghans in first power play
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan won the toss and elected to bat first. But Bangladesh made a perfect start as Saifuddin clean bowled Afghan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the first ball of the match. It was a brilliant out swinger from Saifuddin and Gurbaz, who scored a brisk 43 last match, had no reply. Bangladesh also picked two more wickets in next two overs as Hazratullah Zazai (1) was caught at deep mid wicket against Shakib and Najeeb Tarakai (11) also lost his wicket in third over. Tigers managed to pick another wicket in sixth over, before power play ends as Najibullah Zadran, man of the match in last match, lost his wicket to Shakib. After the first power play, Afghanistan were at 41 for 4 and Bangladesh were in good position.
Afghanistan win by 25 runs!
— ICC (@ICC) September 15, 2019
They have now won 12 consecutive T20Is, beating their own record in men's cricket! ? ?
Four wickets for Mujeeb and an unbeaten 84 from Mohammad Nabi proved too much for Bangladesh.#BANvAFG pic.twitter.com/9X04fdVWuQ
Nabi stand tall in the end
Experienced campaigners Asghar Afghan and Mohammad Nabi then formed a 79-run partnership in fifth wicket and got Afghanistan right back in track. Asghar got out in seventeenth over scoring 40 off 37 deliveries. He failed to capitalize the chance as he was caught on boundary line on Taijul’s islam bowling but TV replay showed the left-arm spinner overstepped. But Nabi was brilliant on the other hand and steered Afghanistn to a challenging total with a superb knock of 84 from just 54 deliveries with three fours and seven sixes. The right hander Nabi was dominant in his innings and smashed boundaries all over the park. All-rounder Saifuddin picked up his career best bowlin figure in T20I as he took four wickets for 33 while Shakib took two wickets conceding 18 runs.
3rd T20I
Afghanistan INNINGS R B
Rahmanullah b Saifuddin 0 1
Hazratullah c Liton b Shakib 1 2
Najeeb c Sabbir b Saifuddin 11 13
Asghar c Sabbir b Saifuddin 40 37
Najibullah c Soumya b Shakib 5 7
Nabi not out 84 54
Gulbadin b Saifuddin 0 2
Karim not out 5 6
Extras (b 8, lb 2, nb 2, w 6) 18
TOTAL (6 Wickets, 20 Overs) 164
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 0.1 ov), 2-10 (Hazratullah Zazai, 1.4 ov), 3-19 (Najeeb Tarakai, 2.6 ov), 4-40 (Najibullah Zadran, 5.5 ov), 5-119 (Asghar Afghan, 16.2 ov), 6-121 (Gulbadin Naib, 16.5 ov)
BOWLING
Saifuddin 4-0-33-4, Shakib 4-1-18-2, Mustafizur 4-0-25-0, Taijul 4-0-32-0, Soumya 2-0-31-0, Mosaddek 1-0-12-0, Mahmudullah 1-0-3-0
Bangladesh INNINGS R B
Liton c Najeeb b Mujeeb 0 2
Mushfiqur b Fareed 5 3
Shakib c Rashid b Mujeeb 15 13
Mahmudullah c Najeeb b Naib 44 39
Soumya lbw b Mujeeb 0 1
Sabbir c Naib b Mujeeb 24 27
Afif c Najibullah b Naib 16 14
Mosaddek b Rashid 12 10
Saifuddin c & b Rashid 2 3
Taijul not out 0 1
Mustafizur c sub (Shafiqullah) b Fareed 15 7
Extras (lb 3, nb 1, w 2) 6
TOTAL (All Out, 19.5 Overs) 139
Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Liton Das, 0.2 ov), 2-11 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 1.5 ov), 3-31 (Shakib Al Hasan, 4.2 ov), 4-32 (Soumya Sarkar, 4.6 ov), 5-90 (Mahmudullah, 13.2 ov), 6-95 (Sabbir Rahman, 14.3 ov), 7-115 (Afif Hossain, 17.1 ov), 8-120 (Mohammad Saifuddin, 18.1 ov), 9-124 (Mosaddek Hossain, 18.3 ov), 10-139 (Mustafizur Rahman, 19.5 ov)
BOWLING
Mujeeb 4-0-15-4, Fareed 2.5-0-33-2, Karim 3-0-27-0, Nabi 2-0-11-0, Rashid 4-0-23-2, Naib 4-0 -27-2
Afghanistan won by 25 runs
MoM: Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan)
