Bangladesh beat Afghanistan in the first of two T20Is in Sylhet on Friday in what was undoubtedly a nail-biting finish after Afghanistan’s Karim Janat grabbed a hat-trick in the final over.
But Bangladesh held their nerve to sneak a two-wicket win with just one ball to spare.
The hosts seemed to be cruising towards victory after Towhid Hridoy and Shamim Hossain put on 73 runs for the fifth wicket in reply to Afghanistan’s 154-7. Then drama erupted.
Rashid Khan removed Shamim for 33 to break the partnership, but Bangladesh were still favorites 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 hosts still two runs away. But Shoriful Islam came in at number 10 to strike a 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 3-15.
“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.
The second match of the series will be held at the same ground on Sunday.
