Sports Reporter :
Bangladesh Cricket team thrashed Afghanistan Cricket team by 61 runs in the first Twenty20 International (T20I) match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Thursday.
Electing to bat first, Bangladesh piled up a massive 155 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 20 overs and then shot out Afghanistan for only 94 off 17.4 overs.
Batters of Afghanistan failed to face tight, controlled and superb bowling attack of Bangladeshi bowlers.
Nasum Ahmed played the key role in demolishing Afghanistan’s innings. Nasum Ahmed captured four wickets at the cost of 10 runs. Nasum Ahmed was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding bowling performance.
Shoriful Islam grabbed three wickets in the space of 29 runs, while Shakib Al Hasan bagged two wickets at the cost of 18 runs. Besides, Mustafizur Rahman took one wicket for 19 runs.
Nazibullah Zadran was the only batter, who scored a respectable 27. Bangladesh had a sorrow start as opener Mohammad Naim (2) was trapped leg before wicket by pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi when Bangladesh’s score was 10.
After Naim’s dismissal, debutante Munim Shahriar (17) was trapped leg before wicket by Rashid Khan when the hosts’ total was 25 for the loss of two wickets.
After Shahriar’s departure, Shakib Al Hasan (5) was caught at the short fine leg by Mujeeb Ur Rahman off Qais Ahmed when the home side’s score was 47 for the loss of three wickets.
After Shakib’s dismissal, Liton Das and Mahmudullah Riyad built a notable partnership. They put on together 33 runs in the fourth wicket stand before Riyad (10) was trapped leg before wicket by Azmatullah Omarzai when the Tigers’ total was 80 for the loss of four wickets.
Liton Das notched up a marvelous 60. He hit two sixes and four fours in his 44-ball innings.
Liton and Afif Hossain rescued their team from the danger contributing together 47 runs before Liton was caught at the short fine leg by Azmatullah Omarzai off Fazalhaq Farooqi when Bangladesh’s score was 127 for the loss of five wickets.
After Liton’s departure, Afif Hossain (25) was caught at the cover by Mohammad Nabi off Azmatullah Omarzai when Bangladesh’s total was 127 for the loss of six wickets.
After, Afif’s departure, debutante Yasir Ali (8) was run out by a joint-effort of Rashid Khan and wicketkeeper Rahmatullah Gurbaz when Bangladesh’s score was 147 for the loss of seven wickets.
Number-8 batsman Mahedi Hasan (5) was run out by a joint-effort of Rashid Khan and Rahmatullah Gurbaz when the home side’s total was 151 for the loss of eight wickets.
Earlier, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai bagged two wickets each instead of 27 and 31 runs respectively. Rashid Khan and Qais Ahmed took one wicket apiece.
