Tanzid Hasan Tamim’s rollicking half-century and a proficient bowling display handed Bangladesh an eight-run victory in their do-or-die clash against Afghanistan. Bangladesh posted a chaseable 154/5 on the board but their bowlers, led by Nasum Ahmed up front, Rishad Hossain during the middle, and Mustafizur Rahman towards the end, ensured its adequacy.
The determining factor of the match
For a refreshing change, Bangladesh thrived in the PowerPlay, racing past 50 without losing a wicket. That platform proved instrumental, even as Afghanistan retaliated in the second half of the innings. The contrast was stark: Afghanistan were pegged back early and never recovered, with the 32-run separation in the powerplay ultimately deciding the contest.
Openers provide Bangladesh a solid platform
Saif Hassan, one of four changes for Bangladesh, looked ill at ease as Fazalhaq Farooqi got the ball to talk. He was nearly caught at cover in the opening over but finally managed to break the shackles with a pick-up shot off Azmatullah Omarzai. Meanwhile, Tanzid Hasan Tamim rode his luck too as an edge off Farooqi bisected the wicketkeeper and first slip. Fortune continued to favour Afghanistan as Tanzid was saved by the umpire’s call after an lbw shout. He then hit two assertive boundaries as 16 runs came off the third over. Saif too stroked a six off AM Ghazanfar, and after copping a helmet blow by a short ball from Omarzai, got another boundary. Tanzid went after Ghazanfar as well, clobbering two sixes in the sixth over as Bangladesh raised their first 50+ opening stand in 12 innings.
Wrist spinners make inroads in middle phase
Talisman Rashid Khan brought himself on and delivered the breakthrough as Saif was knocked over attempting a slog. Mohammad Nabi accompanied Rashid well before Tanzid pulled the veteran off-spinner for a six. Litton Das milked the singles as Bangladesh moved to 87/1 at the halfway stage. The partnership was brought to a halt by Noor Ahmad who defeated Litton’s sweep to trap him in front, with Afghanistan having to rely to technology to get the decision in their favour. Ghazanfar, who had proven expensive in his first two overs, came back into the attack and saw Tanzid rustle up a 28-ball fifty. However, he holed in the deep off Noor, soon after Towhid Hridoy crashed a six off the left-arm wristspinner. Shamim Hossain and Hridoy found the rope intermittently as Bangladesh set themselves up reasonably for the death overs razzmatazz.
Death overs: An underwhelming finish for Bangladesh
Rashid finished his spell on a high, dismissing Shamim leg-before in his final over while giving away just five runs in the 16th. Despite being struck for a four by Jaker Ali, Noor controlled the run-flow in the 17th, conceding only six. Afghanistan exerted pressure on Bangladesh as Farooqi sent down a nine-run over without conceding a boundary whereas Omarzai removed Hridoy in the penultimate over, which produced just six runs. Farooqi wrapped up the innings with another nine-run over as Bangladesh dawdled their way through the last five overs.
Nasum Ahmed jolts Afghanistan with early strikes
Bangladesh had the start the doctor ordered as Nasum Ahmed struck off his first ball to have Sediqullah Atal out lbw and began with a wicket maiden. Ibrahim Zadran was lucky to be put down by Rishad Hossain at point off the returning Taskin Ahmed, after which both the openers helped themselves to a few boundaries. Afghanistan, though, suffered another setback as Zadran was adjudged out lbw to Nasum, with the umpire’s call favouring Bangladesh. Despite a boundary for Gulbadin Naib off Mustafizur Rahman, it was a powerplay that belonged to Bangladesh.
Middle overs: Rishad leaves Afghanistan five down
Rishad began his quota with a peaceful over before Gulbadin and Gurbaz got Afghanistan going, taking apart Shamim for 16 in an over. They took Afghanistan past 50 before Gulbadin offered Rishad a return catch. The onus was on Gurbaz to move the innings forward and he did bash a six off Saif before Rishad ended his stay in the 11th over owing to a miscued sweep. Nabi also cleared the ropes once before falling in the next over, with Mustafizur chopping onto the stumps to leave Afghanistan five down for 77. Finally, the the scoring rate received a fillip as Omarzai dazzled two sixes and a four of Saif to yank 20 in the over as Afghanistan crossed 100, even though Rishad returned an economical spell.
Death overs: Mustafizur, Nasum ensure Bangladesh win
Omarzai hoisted his third six by pulling a Taskin delivery but the bowler clawed back with his trademark slower variation to remove the well-set batter. Skipper Rashid then engineered a no-look six off Mustafizur over fine leg, and followed it up with a boundary as 14 came off the over, leaving Afghanistan needing 31 off the last three. Karim Janat was run out in the 18th over, with Nasum conceding only 4 to walk away with excellent figures of 2-11. Rashid slammed a four off Mustafizur in the 19th over but the experienced campaigner had the last laugh as an unchecked steer made it to the hands of short third man. Ghazanfar perished soon after, providing the left-armer his third wicket. Afghanistan needed 22 off the final over and although they couldn’t reach the finish line, Noor’s two sixes ensured the NRR did not much of a beating.
