Bangladesh seal last-over thriller despite Janat hat-trick

1st T20I (D/N), Sylhet, July 14, 2023

, Afghanistan tour of Bangladesh

(19.5/20 ov, T:155) 157/8

Bangladesh won by 2 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)

Bangladesh 157 for 8 (Hridoy 47*, Shamim 33, Janat 3-15) beat Afghanistan 154 for 7 (Nabi 54*, Omarzai 33, Shakib 2-27) by two wickets

Bangladesh overcame a scare to beat Afghanistan by two wickets in the first T20I in Sylhet. Down to 64 for 4 in a chase of 155, Bangladesh owed their turnaround to Towhid Hridoy and Shamim Hossain, whose 73-run stand put them in a comfortable position. But with two needed off the last five balls, pacer Karim Janat took a hat-trick to keep Afghanistan in the game with Hridoy stuck at the non-striker's end. Shoriful Islam, at No.10, then took Bangladesh home with a cracking cut shot for four.

Six runs were needed from the final over when Mehidy Hasan Miraz crunched a cover drive off the first delivery, before throwing his wicket away with a pull to midwicket. Taskin Ahmed was caught behind the following ball, and Nasum Ahmed top-edged a catch to deep third as Janat completed the hat-trick. Hridoy was unbeaten on 47 off 32 balls with three fours and two sixes and did not face a ball in that final over.

Earlier, Mohammad Nabi's fifth half-century in T20Is lifted Afghanistan to a modest total from 52 for 4. He made 54 off 40 with six fours and a six. Azmatullah Omarzai struck a 18-ball 33 with four sixes as the pair added 56 for the sixth wicket in 5.1 overs.

With Shamim on 23, Najibullah Zadran dropped a sitter at deep square leg, which proved to be a game-changing moment. Hridoy and Shamim then scored 16 runs in the next over, bowled by Fazalhaq Farooqi. While Shamim got into an awkward position to play a scoop over fine-leg for four while losing balance, Hridoy pulled away a six in that over to ease tension. Shamim eventually fell for a 25-ball 33 in the 18th over, bowled by Rashid Khan.

Shakib Al Hasan tried to accelerate with some unusual shots - a scoop, a ramp and a lofted straight one off the back foot - but his stay was short-lived. He slapped a ball straight to Janat at deep point to leave Bangladesh at 64 for 4.

Nasum had Hazratullah Zazai miscuing a whip to Hridoy at square leg in the third over. Rahmanullah Gurbaz swung Taskin to fine leg where Mehidy took a good tumbling catch. Shoriful removed Ibrahim Zadran for the fifth time on this tour, when the young batter was caught behind. When Shakib had Janat caught at mid-off, Afghanistan had lost four of their batters for 52.

Afghanistan took 53 runs in the last four overs with overs 17-19 going for 14 runs each. Shakib removed Omarzai in the 19th over after he struck him for two sixes.

Nabi reached his fifty in the last over. His only six came in the 17th over when he deposited Takin over midwicket. His innings ensured Afghanistan got to a competitive total.

AFGBAN

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Over 20 • BAN 157/8

Bangladesh won by 2 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)

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