Shoriful, middle-order to the rescue as Bangladesh clinch Afghanistan T20 series

Bangladesh’s lower order shows grit to wrap up tense chase

Bangladesh secured a gripping 2-wicket win over Afghanistan to clinch the T20 series 2-0 after Shoriful Islam and Nurul Hasan Sohan steered them to a tense last-over victory in a dramatic chase in Sharjah.

Left-armer Shoriful emerged as the pulsating game’s defining figure, delivering a superbly economical bowling spell before striking the winning runs in a nervy finish as Bangladesh chased down 148 on Friday.

After the top order collapsed, it was the lower order that showed grit under pressure. Sohan (31*) held his nerve to steer the side home, with support from Jaker Ali (31) and late resistance from the tailenders.

Shamim Hossain’s blistering 33 off 22 balls had earlier revived the chase, before Azmatullah Omarzai and Rashid Khan struck back for Afghanistan.

But Bangladesh’s depth proved decisive, as they edged across the line with five balls remaining.

Asked to bat, Afghanistan openers gave them the platform their captain Rashid Khan had demanded at the toss.

Ibrahim Zadran anchored the powerplay, which ended at 35 without loss. Sediqullah Atal pressed the accelerator in the eighth over, clubbing two sixes off Rishad Hossain before holing out next ball for 23. Nasum Ahmed struck soon after, having Zadran caught at long-on for 38 from 37 balls.

Wickets began to fall regularly as debutant Wafiullah Tarakhil was dismissed cheaply, and Darwish Rasooli followed after briefly counterattacking Nasum.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s attempt to launch Rishad ended in Shoriful’s hands in the 17th over for 30. Afghanistan mustered only 40 runs in their last five overs, losing one wicket and clearing the boundary twice.

Shoriful’s figures stood out: 4 overs for just 13 runs, backed by tight spells from Nasum (2-25) and Saifuddin (0-22). Mustafizur Rahman (0-40) and Rishad (2-45) were more expensive, though the leg-spinner claimed two key wickets.

Afghanistan closed on a modest 147 that left the contest finely balanced, but Bangladesh’s chase began shakily.

Azmatullah Omarzai (4-23) removed Tanzid Hasan (2) with Rashid tumbling forward at mid-off, then trapped Parvez Hossain Emon (2) in front.

Saif Hassan briefly countered with two sixes before falling to Mujeeb Ur Rahman for 12, leaving Bangladesh reeling at 24 for 3.

Shamim’s bold strokeplay shifted the momentum. He ended the powerplay by launching Rashid for a six, while Jaker broke his run of low scores with a crisp loft over long-on off Mohammad Nabi (0-32).

The pair added 56, stabilising the innings before Jaker fell, lbw to Rashid again. Shamim’s second six -- a towering hit over midwicket -- carried Bangladesh to 102 for 4, but his dismissal for 33 triggered a collapse.

Noor Ahmad (1-40) removed Shamim, Nasum’s misjudged slog off Rashid followed, and Omarzai’s double strike in the 18th over reduced Bangladesh to 129 for 8.

With 19 needed off 12 balls, Sohan seized the initiative, launching Noor for six at the start of the penultimate over. A single followed, then three wides and Shoriful’s composed 7 runs, including a clean straight boundary, swung the chase Bangladesh’s way.

Two were needed off the final over. Shoriful retained the strike and drilled Omarzai’s first ball down the ground to seal victory. Nurul remained unbeaten, while Shoriful’s 11 not out off six capped a superb all-round display.

The third T20 is scheduled for Sunday, before the teams move to Abu Dhabi for an ODI series.