Bangladesh sealed a thrilling two-wicket win over Afghanistan in the second T20I in Sharjah to clinch the series 2-0 with one game still to play. The victory came through a combined effort, with Shoriful Islam starring with both bat and ball in a tense contest.
Afghanistan, asked to bat first, managed 147 for 5. They started cautiously, reaching only 35 in the powerplay. Sediqullah Atal struck a pair of sixes off Rishad Hossain but was dismissed immediately after for 23. Hazratullah Zadran’s 38 anchored the innings, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz chipped in with 30 before falling to Shoriful. Despite a steady platform, Afghanistan’s acceleration never arrived, managing just 40 runs in the last five overs. Shoriful bowled brilliantly, conceding only 13 runs in his four overs, while Nasum Ahmed also impressed with 2 for 25.
Bangladesh’s chase began shakily as Azmatullah Omarzai removed both openers early. Saif Hassan’s brief cameo ended in the fifth over, leaving them 24 for 3. Shamim Hossain (33) and Jaker Ali (32) revived the innings with a crucial 56-run stand, hitting timely boundaries against Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi. But once Noor Ahmad and Omarzai struck in quick succession, Bangladesh slipped from 102 for 4 to 129 for 8.
Needing 19 runs from 12 balls with two wickets left, Nurul Hasan and Shoriful held their nerve. Nurul cleared the ropes early in the 19th over before Shoriful added seven vital runs, leaving just two needed in the final over. Shoriful then sealed the win with a straight boundary off Omarzai’s first ball. Nurul stayed unbeaten on 31 off 21 balls, while Shoriful’s all-round brilliance, capped by his decisive 11 not out, carried Bangladesh home in dramatic fashion.
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