Bangladesh Clinch T20I Series Over Afghans
Bangladesh Secured A Thrilling Two-Wicket Win
Bangladesh held their nerves till the end as they edged past Afghanistan in the second T20I to secure a thrilling two-wicket win and seal the three-match series 2-0 in Sharjah. The dramatic encounter saw Shoriful Islam shine with both bat and ball and Nurul Hasan guiding Bangladesh to win the match in emphatic style.
The contest, played under the floodlights of Sharjah, swung back and forth, keeping fans on edge until the very last over. Bangladesh, chasing 148, found themselves in trouble multiple times but collective performance from Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Nurul Hasan, and finally Shoriful Islam proved decisive in clinching the series.
Bangladesh Hold Nerve in Tight Chase
Chasing 148 was never going to be straightforward on a tricky surface, and Afghanistan made early inroads courtesy of Azmatullah Omarzai. He dismissed Tanzid Hasan in the second over with Rashid Khan taking a sharp catch, before trapping Parvez Hossain lbw in his next over. Bangladesh were reeling at 10 for 2, and when Saif Hassan departed after a couple of boundaries, the score read 24 for 3 inside the powerplay.
It was at this critical stage that Shamim Hossain and Jaker Ali came together to steady the innings. Shamim’s aggressive intent was clear when he launched Rashid Khan for a six to end the powerplay. Jaker also regained form, striking a six over long-on against Mohammad Nabi and following it up with a stylish flick against Abdollah Ahmadzai. Their 56-run partnership revived Bangladesh and pushed them towards stability.
However, as has often been the case, a collapse wasn’t far away. Jaker (32) fell lbw to Rashid Khan, and Shamim (33) was removed by Noor Ahmad. The lower order then crumbled as Omarzai returned to dismiss Mohammad Saifuddin and Rishad Hossain in quick succession. From a position of comfort at 102 for 4, Bangladesh suddenly slipped to 129 for 8 with just 12 balls left.
Nurul and Shoriful Seal Famous Win
With 19 runs needed from the final 12 deliveries, the match looked firmly in Afghanistan’s control. But Nurul Hasan had other plans. He began the 19th over with a towering six off Noor Ahmad, a shot that injected belief back into the Bangladesh camp. Though he rotated strike immediately after, a few extras and a straight boundary from Shoriful turned the tide. By the end of the 19th over, Tigers needed just two runs to win.
The responsibility rested on Shoriful Islam in the last over, and the left-hander wasted no time. He crashed Omarzai’s first delivery down the ground for four, sealing a memorable two-wicket win. Nurul remained unbeaten on 31 off 21 balls, while Shoriful contributed a vital 11* off six deliveries.
This tense finish meant Bangladesh clinch T20I series over Afghanistan with one game to spare, underlining their growing maturity in close encounters.
Afghanistan’s Stuttering Batting Effort
Earlier, Afghanistan had opted to bat but struggled to accelerate during the powerplay, managing just 35 runs without losing a wicket. Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal kept wickets intact but failed to put pressure on Bangladesh’s disciplined attack.
Atal briefly broke the shackles with two sixes against Rishad Hossain, but he fell the very next ball for 23. Nasum Ahmed then removed Zadran for 38, caught at long-on, before dismissing debutant Wafiullah Tarakhil for just 1.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, usually Afghanistan’s enforcer, struck two sixes but was undone by Shoriful in the 17th over. Gurbaz’s dismissal for 30 left Afghanistan short of momentum. Despite a few lusty blows, they managed only 147 for 5 in 20 overs, scoring just 40 runs in the last five overs.
Shoriful’s All-Round Brilliance
While Nurul Hasan’s calm presence and Shamim Hossain’s counterattack stood out, Shoriful Islam was the undisputed hero. His bowling spell of 4 overs for just 13 runs strangled Afghanistan’s scoring. Every time Afghan batters attempted to accelerate, Shoriful’s accuracy and variations stalled them.
His late cameo with the bat — including a straight boundary in the 19th over and the winning shot in the 20th — ensured Bangladesh clinch T20I series over Afghanistan. It was the kind of all-round performance that underlines why Shoriful is becoming one of Bangladesh’s most valuable players in the shortest format.
Bangladesh’s Bowling Depth Proves Key
A major takeaway from this victory was the depth and balance in Bangladesh’s bowling unit. Three of the five bowlers — Shoriful, Nasum Ahmed, and Saifuddin — finished with economy rates under 6.50. Nasum’s 2 for 25 was particularly impactful, breaking Afghanistan’s middle order momentum.
Although Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad Hossain proved expensive, Rishad still picked up two wickets at key moments. This blend of economy and wicket-taking ability reflects a maturing bowling attack capable of adapting to conditions.
Afghanistan Falter in Key Moments
For Afghanistan, the loss will sting deeply. They had Bangladesh at 129 for 8 with just two overs remaining, but their inability to hold composure in crunch situations cost them dearly. Noor Ahmad’s expensive 19th over and Omarzai’s failure to close out the final over highlighted the lack of finishing touch.
Their batting, too, lacked intent. Despite wickets in hand, the Afghan batters were unable to find boundaries consistently. Ibrahim Zadran’s 38 off 37 balls reflected the stagnation in their innings. Against a side as determined as Bangladesh, such missed opportunities are costly.
What This Means for Bangladesh
With this victory, Bangladesh clinch T20I series over Afghanistan and extend their recent run of strong performances in limited-overs cricket. The win also boosts confidence ahead of upcoming international assignments. Importantly, it showed Bangladesh’s ability to handle pressure, recover from collapses, and rely on different match-winners on any given day. Bangladesh won the first match by four wickets.
The emergence of young talents like Shamim Hossain and Jaker Ali, combined with the leadership of seniors like Nurul Hasan and the reliability of Shoriful Islam, gives Bangladesh a well-rounded look.
