Afif, Sohan power Bangladesh to 2nd win vs Australia

Dhaka — Bangladesh beat Australia in the second T20I by five wickets on Wednesday, the hosts’ back-to-back win in the series at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium with eight balls to play.

With this win, Bangladesh took 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.

To chase down the target of 122 runs, Bangladesh needed 32 runs in the last five overs. Afif Hossain and Nurul Hasan Sohan finished the job in style.

Afif hit Josh Hazlewood for a four off the fourth ball of the 19th over and sealed the game. The left-handed batsman remained unbeaten on 37 off 31 balls hitting five fours and one six, while Sohan was also unbeaten on 22 off 21 balls.

In the sixth wicket stand, they added 56 runs off 44 balls.

Bangladesh suffered early setback as they lost both the openers inside the first two overs of the match. Soumya Sarkar disappointed once again with the bat, and Mohammad Naim couldn’t settle in.

While Mitchell Starc removed Soumya, Josh Hazlewood took the wicket of Naim. In the third-wicket stand, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahedi Hasan added 37 runs off 32 balls. They somewhat managed to control the early damage. But Shakib went out during the ninth over scoring 26 off 17 balls, and right after him Mahmudullah Riyad fell for a duck in the next over.

Back to back wickets pushed the hosts into trouble which deepened when Mahedi fell for 23 off 24 balls.

At the end of 15 overs, Bangladesh were batting at 90 for five with Nurul Hasan Sohan and Afif Hossain  batting on 9 and 20 respectively. This pair has eventually guided the Tigers home.

Earlier, Australia have won the toss and opted to bat first in this match. Both the teams fielded an unchanged playing XI each.

Like the first match, Mahedi Hasan broke the first-wicket stand of the tourists removing Alex Carey. The delivery looked a simple one, but Alex miscued it and skied the ball. It was a regulation catch for Nasum Ahmed.

Mustafizur got his first reward persisting with slow deliveries when Josh Philippe failed to pick the line correctly and lost his leg-stump. Philippe was fragile in the first match and this time, he also failed with the bat.

Inside the power play, Australia scored 32 losing two wickets. In the next nine overs, they added 58 runs losing only one more wicket. But they never looked comfortable against the Tigers’ bowling lineup.

In the last five overs, Australia only managed 31 runs losing four wickets, with Mustafizur’s two wickets in two balls during the 18th over.

Bangladesh have won the first match by 23 runs. Nasum Ahmed took four wickets after Bangladesh posted 131 runs, and helped the Tigers register their first win against Australia in T20Is.

Mustafizur Rahman bagged three wickets for the hosts while Shorfiul Islam took two conceding 23 and 27 respectively.

The remaining matches of the series will take place at the same venue on August 6, 7 and 9. UNB