Bangladesh take 1–0 lead over Afghanistan despite middle-order collapse
At one stage, Bangladesh were cruising at 109 without loss. From that strong position, they lost 6 wickets for just 9 runs.
Bangladesh won the first T20I against Afghanistan by 4 wickets, chasing down 151 with 8 balls to spare — but not without making the match far more difficult than it needed to be.
At one stage, Bangladesh were cruising at 109 without loss. From that strong position, they lost 6 wickets for just 9 runs, stumbling to 118 for 6 — turning what looked like a comfortable chase into a tense finish.
It was then that Nurul Hasan Sohan and Rishad Hossain held their nerve. Their unbeaten 35-run stand off just 18 deliveries eventually saw Bangladesh home.
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In the 18th over, both batters hit a four each off Fareed Ahmad. With 16 runs required from the final two overs, Sohan settled nerves with two clean sixes off the first two balls from Azmatullah Omarzai. Rishad then finished things off with a boundary.
Sohan remained unbeaten on 23 off 13 balls (2 sixes, 1 four), while Rishad made 14 off 9 (3 fours).
Score Summary
Afghanistan: 151/9 in 20 overs
(Gurbaz 40, Nabi 38, Omarzai 18; Tanzim 2-33, Rishad 2-33, Mustafizur 1-24, Taskin 1-40, Nasum 1-18)
Bangladesh: 153/6 in 18.4 overs
(Tanzid 51, Parvez 54, Sohan 23*, Rishad 14*; Rashid Khan 4-18-4, Noor 1-21)
Result: Bangladesh won by 4 wickets and lead the 3-match series 1–0.
