ICC’s new full member Afghanistan took 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh with a 45-run victory in the 1st match under the floodlight at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun, Indiaon Sunday.
Chasing a target of 168 runs, Bangladesh ended the innings on 122 for all in 19 overs where wicketkeeper batsman Liton Kumar Das (30 off 20b; 3×4; 1×6), MahmudullahRiyad (29 off 25b; 3×4; 1×6), Mushfiqur Rahim (20 off 17b; 1×4), skipper Shakib Al Hasan (15 off 15b; 2×4) and MosaddekHossain (14 off 23b; 1×4) were the double digit scorer for the side.
Opening the innings, Bangladesh shook with TamimIqbal’s early dismissal for duck in the innings very 1st ball as Mujeeb Ur Rahman trapped him lbw.
Top-scorer Liton and Shakib shared a partnership of 21 off 3.3 overs in the 2nd stand before Shakib was caught behind by Mohammad Shahzad off Mohammad Nabi.
Liton continued up to the 64/3 in 8 overs, sharing another partnership of 43 off 4.2 overs with Mushfiqur in the 3rd stand, before being lbw by Mohammad Nabi.
Leg-break googly man Rashid Khan dismissed two successive wickets in the in 11th over — keeping Bangladesh collection on 79 runs — to breakdown the strength of Bangladesh’s middle-order, bowling out Mushfiqur before trapped SabbirRahman, out with duck, by lbw on 79/5 in 10.2 overs and it all went downhill from there on.
Bangladesh’s last dependable batsmanMahmudullah was caught by UsmanGhani off ShapoorZadran on 118/8 in 17.4 overs after disheartening dismissals of AbulHasan and Mosaddek on 117/7 in 17.2 overs and on 108/6 in 16.3 overs respectively.
Rashid Khan (3/13) and ShapoorZadran (3/40) equally shared six wickets while Mohammad Nabi (2/21),Mujeeb Ur Rahman (1/20) and KarimJanat (1/27) shared four wickets for the maiden T20I win against Bangladesh.
Sent in to bat first, Afghanistan collected 167/8 in 20 overs where opener Mohammad Shahzad top-scored 40 off 37 balls, including five boundaries, and shared a partnership of 62 off 8.3 overs with UsmanGani (26 off 24b; 2×4; 1×6) in the opening stand.
SamiullahShenwari (36 off 18b; 3×4; 3×6), skipper AsgharStanikzai (25 off 24b; 1×6) and Shafiqullah (24 off 8b; 1×4; 3×6) were other double digit scorers for Afghanistan.
