Shakib Al Hasan and Taskin Ahmed lead Bangladesh to 2-0 series sweep

Some stylish T20I cricket from Bangladesh helped them to their first bilateral T20I series win against Afghanistan, with a six-wicket win in the rain-hit second game in Sylhet. A combination of fine new-ball bowling from Taskin Ahmed and a quickfire batting powerplay display by Litton Das and Afif Hossain did the trick, Bangladesh eventually knocking off a revised target of 119 from 17 overs with five balls to spare.

Against Afghanistan, Bangladesh had previously lost a T20I series in 2018 in Dehradun and tied a two-match series at home last year. Along with setting this record straight, they have also maintained their perfect 2023 in T20Is: they have won all three bilateral series they've played in the shortest format this year, having beaten England 3-0 and Ireland 2-1 in March.

Today, it was Taskin who got them off to a fiery start.

In the first over, Rahmanullah Gurbaz top edged a short one from Taskin Ahmed for six, but Taskin hurried him once again with a short ball the very next delivery, and this time took the skier on offer himself. The wicket was Taskin's 50th in T20Is, making him the third to reach this mark from Bangladesh after Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman. Gurbaz's opening partner Hazratullah Zazai followed him in the third over after Taskin had him caught behind for four, an attempted steer through deep third not coming off.

Soon after, rain forced a long break of 98 minutes and the game was reduced to 17 overs a side. It gave Afghanistan, who had already batted 7.2 overs, less than ten overs to post a decent total. Mohammad Nabi, who made a fifty in the first T20I, however looked anxious at the crease and couldn't get going. He was lucky too, when Shakib at cover and wicketkeeper Litton dropped him off consecutive balls in the ninth over, when he was on 15. Nasum Ahmed was the unlucky bowler.

Mustafizur removed Nabi in the next over for 16, before Shakib had Ibrahim Zadran caught at long-on for 22 and Najibullah Zadran bowled for five in the same over. Allrounders Azmatullah Omarzai and Karim Janat got away three fours and two sixes during their sixth-wicket stand of 42 and looked like their might provide Afghanistan with the surge they very much needed, but the Bangladesh bowlers fought back beautifully. They conceded just one boundary (a six) in the last three overs, while accounting for both the allrounders - Omarzai fell to Mustafizur and Janat to Taskin.

Litton welcomed Fazalhaq Farooqi with a straight drive and a swivel pull in the first over of their 119-run chase. It was a rare burst against Farooqi, who has mostly bossed powerplays in the white-ball formats.

Litton then laid into debutant Wafadar Momand, hitting him for three consecutive fours in the next over: he started off with a splendid square cut, followed by an outside edge over the slips, and then a stunning backfoot punch through the covers. Momand went for 19 runs in his first over in T20I cricket.

Litton dished out harsh treatment to Mujeeb Ur Rahman as well, clipping him first ball for four through fine-leg, before Afif lofted him for six over mid-off in his next over. They became the first Bangladeshi opening pair to add 50 runs in T20Is against Afghanistan, as Bangladesh rocketed along, getting to 61 for no loss in seven overs.

A tight over from Rashid Khan and a one-run effort from Omarzai followed. Litton played out five dots in that eighth over and took a single last ball, only to fall to Mujeeb first ball of the ninth, caught brilliantly in the covers by Rashid. Afif followed Litton just two balls later, holing out at deep midwicket.

Omarzai then yorked Najmul Hossain Shanto in the next over. At that point Bangladesh needed only a further 43 runs from 36 balls but they had lost three wickets for nine runs in two overs. Towhid Hridoy and Shakib were the new batters, and as they took a bit of time to get their eye in, suddenly Bangladesh needed eight per over in the last five overs.

The in-form Hridoy hit Mujeeb for a four over cover next over. It was Bangladesh's first boundary since the seventh over, a gap of 30 balls. Shakib edged Mujeeb for a four, and 12 runs came off the over. Shakib launched Rashid for a six in the next over and it was down to a run a ball needed.

When Hridoy slammed Omarzai for a first six, over deep square, Bangladesh needed 12 off 16. But he threw it away next ball, toe-ending a catch to mid-off for 19. Shakib and Shamim Hossain ensured no more damage, Shamim pulling Wafadar for four to tick off the winning runs first ball of the final over.