BAN vs AFG, 1st T20I: Bangladesh beats Afghanistan despite Janat hat-trick

Afghanistan’s Janat dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed and Nasum Ahmed but Bangladesh held its nerve to sneak a two-wicket win with just a ball to spare.

Bangladesh’s Towhid Hridoy (right) and Shoriful Islam celebrate after winning the first Twenty20 International against Afghanistan at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. | Photo Credit: AFP

Afghanistan’s Karim Janat grabbed a hat-trick in the final over but Bangladesh held its nerve to sneak a two-wicket win with just a ball to spare in the first T20 International in Sylhet on Friday.

The host seemed to be cruising towards victory in the first encounter of the two-match series after Towhid Hridoy and Shamim Hossain put on 73 runs for the fifth wicket in reply to Afghanistan’s 154 for seven.

Then drama erupted at the Sylhet International Stadium.

Rashid Khan removed Shamim for 33 to break the partnership, but Bangladesh was still the favourite, needing only six runs from the final over.

Instead, Janat dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed and Nasum Ahmed with the second, third and fourth balls of the over, leaving the host still two runs away.

Shoriful Islam came in at number 10 to strike a powerful shot that raced to the boundary, earning Bangladesh a dramatic win.

Hridoy remained unbeaten on 47 at the non-striker’s end as Janat finished with three for 15.

“We had the belief, all our tail-enders can bat. It was Shoriful’s turn today but Miraz could have finished it,” said Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan.

Rashid, the Afghanistan captain, lamented his side’s inability to defend their total.

“With the bowling unit we have, that total was enough, but in T20, one innings can take away the game from you,” he said.

The visitor struggled at the start of its innings, losing its first four wickets for 52 runs after Shakib won the toss and elected to bowl.

But Mohammad Nabi scored an unbeaten 54 from 40 balls to give Afghanistan a competitive score.

He hit the first ball he faced for four to signal his intent and kept the scoreboard ticking over, with the occasional boundary.

Najibullah Zadran provided him brief support with a run-a-ball 23 before falling to Mehidy, while Azmatullah Omarzai hit four sixes to score 33 off 18 deliveries, ensuring Afghanistan never lost its way completely.

Shakib was the host’s most successful bowler with two for 27.

Similarly, Bangladesh was reduced to 64 for four as Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Omarzai and Fareed Ahmed each claimed a wicket before Hridoy and Shamim mounted the comeback.

The second match of the series will be held at the same ground on Sunday.