Despite Janat’s hat-trick, Bangladesh wins the last-over thriller

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Bangladesh defeated Afghanistan by 2 wickets

At the first Twenty20 International at Sylhet, Bangladesh overcame a scare to defeat Afghanistan by two wickets. Towhid Hridoy and Shamim Hossain, whose 73-run partnership put Bangladesh in a comfortable position after they had fallen to 64 for 4 in a chase of 155, are responsible for their turnaround. 

While Hridoy was trapped at the non-striker’s end and two runs were needed off the final five balls, bowler Karim Janat took three wickets to keep Afghanistan in the game. Then, Bangladesh was won with a fantastic cut shot by Shoriful Islam, who was batting No. 10.

Mehidy Hasan Miraz crushed a cover drive off the first delivery of the last over, needing only six runs, but then lost his wicket by pulling to midwicket. The next ball Taskin Ahmed was caught behind, and Nasum Ahmed top-edged a catch to deep third as Janat finished his hat-trick. 

With three fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 47 off 32 balls, Hridoy did not face a ball in the last over.

Afghanistan started out at 52 for 4, but Mohammad Nabi’s fifth half-century in T20Is brought them to a modest score. Six fours and a six let him make 54 out of 40. As the pair accumulated 56 runs for the sixth wicket in 5.1 overs, Azmatullah Omarzai hit an 18-ball 33 with four sixes.

Bangladesh had six wickets in hand and needed 9.5 runs per over to reach their target at the start of the 13th over. Hridoy launched the attack by hitting the first ball from Omarzai for four over mid-off. He then hit a nasty pull shot for another score of four as a response. 

Shamim then appeared to pull awkwardly for a second boundary. Bangladesh scored three more runs in the final two balls to reach 21 runs in the over, lowering the asking rate to 7.85.

Najibullah Zadran dropped a sitter at deep square leg with Shamim on 23, which ended up influencing the outcome of the match. Afterward, Hridoy and Shamim scored 16 runs off the bowling of Fazalhaq Farooqi in the subsequent over. 

Hridoy pulled away a six in that over to relieve tension as Shamim got into a difficult situation to play a scoop over fine-leg for four while losing balance. Shamim ultimately was bowled by Rashid Khan for a score of 33 off 25 balls.

In the early stages of Rony Talukdar’s 154-run defense, Farooqi managed to get the ball through Talukdar’s bat and pad. When Najmul Hossain Shanto’s hip was struck by Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s delivery before it reached the stumps, it was a stroke of luck. With a score of 37 for two, Bangladesh played slowly in the powerplay. In the eighth over for 18 off 19, Omarzai caught Litton Das at mid-off.

Shakib Al Hasan tried to pick up speed with some odd shots, including a scoop, a ramp, and a lofted straight shot off the back foot, but his stay was brief. He hit a ball straight to Janat at deep point, ending Bangladesh’s innings at 64 for 4.

Bangladesh’s bowlers chose to bowl after their captain had earlier spoken on the match’s night about the importance of getting off to a strong start. Ten dot balls in Taskin Ahmed’s opening three powerplay overs gave him the initiative.

In the third over, Hazratullah Zazai was caught by Nasum failing a whip to Hridoy at square leg. Taskin was swung to fine leg by Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Mehidy made a fantastic diving catch. When the young batter was caught behind, Shoriful withdrew Ibrahim Zadran for the fifth time on this trip. Afghanistan had lost four of their batsmen for a total of 52 runs when Shakib had Janat caught at mid-off.

Together with Najibullah Zadran, who was quickly caught by Litton in the 14th over, Nabi set up 35 runs for the fifth wicket. He then gave Afghanistan something to protect by taking a stand beside Omarzai. Taskin took an uppercut from Omarzai, who then smashed three fours for his first six.

With scores of 14 runs each in overs 17 through 19, Afghanistan scored 53 runs in the final four overs. After hitting him for two sixes in the 19th over, Shakib pulled Omarzai.

Nabi reached fifty during the most recent over. In the 17th over, he hit Takin over midwicket for his lone six. His performance made sure Afghanistan reached a respectable total.

Together with Najibullah Zadran, who was quickly caught by Litton in the 14th over, Nabi set up 35 runs for the fifth wicket. He then gave Afghanistan something to protect by taking a stand beside Omarzai. Taskin took an uppercut from Omarzai, who then smashed three fours for his first six.

With scores of 14 runs each in overs 17 through 19, Afghanistan scored 53 runs in the final four overs. After hitting him for two sixes in the 19th over, Shakib pulled Omarzai.

Nabi reached fifty during the most recent over. In the 17th over, he hit Takin over midwicket for his lone six. His performance made sure Afghanistan reached a respectable total.

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