Afghanistan 121 for 2 (Zazai 59*, Ghani 47, Mahmudullah 1-2) beat Bangladesh 115 for 9 (Mushfiqur 30, Farooqi 3-18, Omarzai 3-22) by eight wickets
Afghanistan roared back with an eight-wicket win to leave Bangladesh with the T20I series leveled. After Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai kept the home side down to 115, Hazratullah Zazai and Usman Ghani helped them home inside the 18th over of the chase.
Zazai struck his third T20I fifty, but both batters took advantage of Bangladesh's poor catching. Nasum Ahmed, who took four wickets in the first game, dropped Zazai's skier in the first over itself off his own bowling when the batter hadn't even opened his account. Afif Hossain and Mohammad Naim then dropped Ghani twice at deep midwicket, on 39 and 41, respectively, both off Mahedi Hasan.
Earlier, Afghanistan didn't allow Bangladesh off the hook with the ball. Farooqi and Omarzai, young fast bowlers who have impressed on this Bangladesh tour, took three wickets each. Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan also took one apiece, as Afghanistan never let the home side to get close to even the seven-run-an-over mark throughout the innings.
Mushfiqur Rahim top-scored with 30 in his 100th T20I, as Bangladesh failed to replicate how they had batted in the first game.
Farooqi, Omarzai all over Bangladesh
Omarzai removed the in-form Litton Das in the fifth over of the Bangladesh innings when the batter chipped one to deep square leg, where Sharafuddin Ashraf took a pretty good catch. And after Karim Janat's direct hit caught an unsuspecting Mohammad Naim short in the ninth over, Omarzai also removed Shakib when he top-edged a pull.
Captain Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur added 43 for the fifth wicket, but they couldn't take the hosts out of trouble. Rashid sent in a straighter delivery with the arm, trapping Mahmudullah lbw for 21. Meanwhile, Mushfiqur was Farooqi's first wicket, as his attempted loft over cover took the bat splice, resulting in Mohammad Nabi taking an easy catch.
Two balls later, Farooqi yorked Mahedi Hasan, reducing Bangladesh to 99 for 7 in the 17th over. Omarzai then had Afif caught at short fine leg, although there was a question about the height of the full toss. Soon after, Farooqi removed Shoriful to take his third with another yorker as Bangladesh finished on a meagre 115.
Gurbaz's angry few minutes
There was steam coming out of Rahmanullah Gurbaz's ears when the umpire adjudged him lbw in the second over. As soon as the finger was raised, Gurbaz punched his bat while aggressively signaling for the review. And while he had a few words to say under the breath, the decision was then overturned by the third umpire.
But a couple of balls later, when Mahedi had him caught at cover, Gurbaz threw his bat on the ground as it rolled over before settling in the covers. And after he picked it up, he still seemed to be fuming as he took off his helmet while walking back.
Full report to follow...
