After being humbled by Afghanistan in the ODI series by 1-2, Bangladesh were determined to turn things around in the T20I series as the two teams locked horns in the first T20I on Friday, July 14, at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet. Bangladesh Captain Shakib-al-Hasan won the toss and invited Afghanistan to bat first.
The decision was vindicated by Nasum Ahmed who got rid of the opener Hazratullah Zazai (8 off 10) in the third over of the innings with 16 runs on the board. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (16 off 11) also couldn’t keep his fireworks going for long as he fell prey to Taskin Ahmed in the fourth over of the innings.
Ibrahim Zadran (8 off 6) and Karim Janat (3 off 9) also failed to notch up a big score leaving their side in all sorts of trouble at 52/4 after 7.4 overs. Seeing his side in trouble, Mohammad Nabi became the thread that held the innings together as he scored a splendid half-century (54* off 40).
He was well supported by Najibullah Zadran (23 off 23) and Azmatullah Omarzai (33 off 18) who helped Afghanistan reach 154/7 in their allotted 20 overs.
In the second innings, Fazalhaq Farooqi continued his brilliant form from the ODI series removing opener Rony Talukdar (4 off 5) in the first over itself. After the early breakthrough, Afghanistan bowlers were all over Bangladesh. They managed to get big scalps of Najmul Hossain Shanto (14 off 12), Litton Das (18 off 19) and Shakib Al Hasan (19 off 17) to leave the hosts reeling at 64/4 after 10.1 overs.
However, a 73-run partnership off 43 balls between Shamim Hossain (33 off 25) and Towhid Hridoy (47* off 32) brought Bangladesh back into the game. Their stand was broken by Rashid Khan who dismissed Hossain in the 18th over. Bangladesh required just seven runs off the last over with five wickets in hand and the equation further came down to 2 needed of 5.
Karim Janat’s hat-trick threw the game wide open
However, a hat-trick by Karim Janat brought the wide open with Bangladesh needing 2 off 2 having two wickets in hand. Shoriful Islam turned out to be the knight in shining armour for his side as he smacked Karim Janat for a four on the penultimate delivery to take his side home. As a result, Bangladesh won the match by two wickets and one ball to spare and went 1-0 up in the three-match series.
Karim Janat was the pick of the bowlers for Afghanistan with his spell of 3/15 in 1.5 overs. Meanwhile, Twitter was abuzz with reactions on Bangladesh’s thrilling victory.
Here are some of the Tweets:
Really like the look of Hridoy for Bangladesh, batting in a key position, has done well in the chances that he has got.
Good win for Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, was a tricky total this. Despite the Janat madness, that was good. #BANvAFG
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) July 14, 2023
Towhid Hridoy 👏🏼 👏🏼 Seems such a bright prospect! #BANvAFG
— Saimon (@SaimonK13) July 14, 2023
6 needed in 6 balls
4,W,W,W,4
2 boundaries & hat trick #BANvAFG
— Ishara (@Ishara23032) July 14, 2023
Had Hridoy not maintained a strike rate above 145, it would have been a dismal day for Bangladesh cricket. #banvafg pic.twitter.com/n91QIQbYXM
— Roshan Singh (@TheRoshanSingh) July 14, 2023
After all that, Shoriful smashes it for 4 to see Bangladesh home by 2 wickets! A thriller in the end. #BanvAfg
— Chris Murtagh (@Murtini2023) July 14, 2023
What a match it was! Not a heartbreak this time!
Congratulations tigers 🐯🐯🐯#BANvAFG
— Shams Rasid (@ShamsRasid) July 14, 2023
🏏 Nail-biting victory for Bangladesh! 🇧🇩 @BCBtigers clinched the 1st T20I by 2 wickets and take the lead in the series 1-0. What a match it was! Hats off to Towhid Hridoy for his career-best highest individual T20I score of 47*(32). Superb knock! #BANvAFG pic.twitter.com/JkAWtWKjHw
— Syed Sami (@SamisDaily) July 14, 2023
Take a bow Tawhid Hridoy and Shamim Hossain🤝#BANvAFG
— Ariyan Rishad (@ariyvnine) July 14, 2023
All those u19 stars seem to be able to handle pressure.
That’s what a major tournament victory can do for your mentality#BANvAFG #CricketTwitter
— lhc (@lhc_1990) July 14, 2023
Almost another heart attack💔
Tnx Bangladesh team for saving us❤️#BANVAFG
— Mehidi Hasan (@shihab9395) July 14, 2023
After a nail biting hat trick climax!! #Bangladesh won the first T20I by 2 wickets 🇧🇩 Hats off to our young guns Towhid Hridoy and Shamim Hossain ✌ #BANvAFG
— Shehab Khan (@CricWithShehab) July 14, 2023