A stellar allround performance of captain Shakib Al Hasan and a fiery bowling of fast bowler Taskin Ahmed led Bangladesh to a 2-0 series sweep against Afghanistan when they secured a six-wicket win in the second and final T20 International on DLS today at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
Having won the rain-hit game, Bangladesh also sealed their first ever T20 series victory against Afghanistan.
The match was reduced to 17 overs after rain halted the game more than an hour and Afghanistan put up only 116-7 after being tormented by a disciplined Bangladesh bowling attack.
Taskin Ahmed led the charge with 3-33 while Shakib put up an economical bowling effort snaring wickets for just 15 runs in three overs. Mustafizur Rahman complemented them with 2-30.
Shakib then made an unbeaten 18 as Bangladesh sealed the deal in the last over, reaching the revised target of 119-4 with five balls to spare with Shamim Patwari confirming the victory, pulling debutant Wafadar Momand for a boundary over deep mid-wicket.
For Afghanistan, Azmatullah Omarzai made team-high 25.
Once Afghanistan were sent to bat first, Taskin dealt a double blow to leave the visitors 16-2 before Mohammad Nabi and Ibrahim Zadran resisted.
As they started the rebuilding process, rain intervened with Afghanistan reeling at 39-2 in 7.2 overs. The rain-break appeared to be a mental distraction for Afghanistan as they lost wickets at regular interval after the game resumed.
Mustafizur Rahamn broke through with the wicket of Nabi (16), who made a half-century in the first game.
Shakib got into act with the wicket of Ibrahim Zadran who hit a four and six in his 27 ball-22 and Najibullah Zadran (5).
Azmatullah Omarzai and Karim Janat helped the side go past 100-run mark with 42-run partnership for the sixth wicket, Afghanistan’s highest partnership in the match.
Omarzai and Janat took the bowlers in disdain as Afghanistan looked to finish on high.
But Mustafizur who was erratic in his first two overs, denied them a final flourish, having got the better of Janat who struck two fours and one six in his knock.
Taskin thereafter claimed the wicket of Janat as Afghanistan failed to give the last blow.
Bangladesh appeared to win the game with ease when Liton Das and Afif Hossain, one of the Bangladesh’s two changes, put on 67-run, the side’s highest for the opening stand against Afghanistan.
Offspinner Mujib Ur Rahman gave Afghanistan a ray of hope, dismissing both Liton and Afif in three balls. Liton made team-best 35 and Afif scored 24.
Omarzai further troubled Bangladesh, getting rid of Najmul Hossain and Towhid Hridoy (19) who played match-winning 47 not out in the first game.
