SYLHET: Karim Janat claimed a hat-trick in the final over of the run chase but Bangladesh kept their nerves calm to claim a thrilling two-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the first T20I on Friday.
Bangladesh needed just six runs off the final over with five wickets in hand and were clear favourites for a comfortable victory in the T20I series opener against Afghanistan.
However, Karim Janat, who conceded a boundary on the first delivery, hit back to remove Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed and Nasum Ahmed on consecutive deliveries, leaving the hosts requiring two runs in as many deliveries.
Shoriful Islam, coming at number 10, displayed nerves of steel to hit Janat for a boundary which sealed a dramatic victory for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s top-scorer in the run chase Towhid Hridoy remained unbeaten on 47. He conceded 32 deliveries and hit three boundaries and two sixes.
Hridoy’s fifth-wicket partnership with Shamim Hossain (33) had Bangladesh cruising for an easy victory before Rashid Khan removed the latter in the 18th over to force a late twist.
Afghanistan’s hat-trick star Karim Janat returned 3/15 while Rashid Khan, Fareed Ahmad, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Fazalhaq Farooqi all claimed one wicket apiece.
Put into bat first, Afghanistan finished at 154/7 in the allotted 20 overs at the back of a cautious half-century by veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi.
The touring side, after getting off to a dismal start, soon lost half of their side in the 14th over with just 87 runs on the scoreboard before Nabi launched an astounding recovery.
The right-handed batter top-scored for Afghanistan with a 40-ball 54 which featured six boundaries and a six.
Azmatullah Omarzai (33) offered a helping hand to Nabi amid their 56-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Shakib Al Hasan spearhead Bangladesh’s bowling charge with 2/27, followed by one each from Nasum Ahmed, Taskin, Shoriful, Mustafizur Rahman and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
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