Afghanistan post fighting total despite the collapses
Bangladesh and Afghanistan are all set to lock horns in the first T20I of a three-match series at Dehradun. The newly promoted Test playing nation are sitting two places ahead of tenth-placed Bangladesh in the ICC T20I Rankings.
This is going to be first international fixture at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium and all three matches will be played here, which will be the second home base for Afghanistan after Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground.
Bangladesh have opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Abul Hasan has returned to the Bangladesh T20I-side six years after playing his last game in the shortest format in the ICC World T20 in 2012.
Afghanistan started well and didn’t lose any wicket during the powerplay. However, a 62-run opening partnership came to an end as Rubel Hossain bowled out Usman Ghani on 26.
The Afghan batters’ duty was now to capitalize on the start they got, but Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmadullah Riyad led a collapse in their batting line-up as Afghanistan lost three wickets in back-to-back overs.
Shakib removed Shahzad for 40 runs and initiated the collapse. Mahmudullah struck twice in the 14th over to by dismissing Najibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi. Zadran managed to add only 2 runs to the total while Nabi got out for a duck.
However, Afghanistan recovered quickly as their skipper Asghar Stanikzai provided support to a quick fire innings by Samiullah Shenwari and another cameo from Shafiqullah Shafiq.
The Afghan captain played a rather slow innings of 25 runs from 24 deliveries and stood firm against the Bangladesh bowlers and helped Samiullah and Shafiq add a total of 60 runs from just 26 deliveries. Smaiullah clubbed 36 off 18 before Shafiq made 24 from 8 balls.
Shenwari was dismissed by Abu Jayed and then the last over from Abul Hasan saw the Afghans give three wickets away in three successive deliveries as the bowler dimissed Shafiq and Karim Janat with Stanikzai getting run out in-between.
Afghanistan have registered 167 runs for 8 wickets in 20 overs. The onus is now on their bowlers to help the team have a positive start to the series.
Score:
AFG - 167/8 (20 Overs)
Bangladesh (Playing XI): Bangladesh (Playing XI): Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Nazmul Islam, Abul Hasan, Abu Jayed
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Mohammad Shahzad(w), Usman Ghani, Asghar Stanikzai(c), Shafiqullah Shafiq, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shenwari, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Karim Janat, Shapoor Zadran
