Tanzid, bowlers keep Bangladesh alive with narrow win over Afghanistan

Tanzid Hasan Tamim's blistering half-century and a disciplined bowling display powered Bangladesh to a victory by 8 runs in their must-win clash against Afghanistan. Bangladesh posted 154/5 – a total that looked slightly under par given their start – but their bowlers, led by Nasum Ahmed up front, Rishad Hossain through the middle, and Mustafizur Rahman at the death, ensured it was enough.

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In the powerplay. For once, Bangladesh made full use of the first six overs, racing past 50 without losing a wicket. That platform proved vital, even as Afghanistan clawed back in the second half of the innings. The contrast was stark: Afghanistan stumbled early and never recovered momentum, with the 32-run powerplay gap ultimately deciding the contest.

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Saif Hassan, one of four changes for Bangladesh, struggled early as Fazalhaq Farooqi was moving the ball both ways and was nearly caught at cover in the opening over. Saif finally got going with a pick-up shot for a four off Azmatullah Omarzai. Meanwhile, Tanzid Hasan Tamim had a lucky break as an edge off Farooqi went between the 'keeper and first slip, got his second four off another edge, and then was saved by the umpire's call on an lbw referral. He then played two confident boundaries as 16 came off the third over. Saif, who was on 7 off 14, managed a six off AM Ghazanfar, and, after being struck on his helmet by a short ball from Omarzai, got a boundary soon after. Tanzid struck two sixes off Ghazanfar in the sixth over as Bangladesh raised their first fifty-plus opening stand in 12 innings.

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Rashid Khan brought himself on and delivered the breakthrough as Saif was bowled attempting to hack across the line. Mohammad Nabi bowled in tandem with Rashid and kept it tight, before Tanzid pulled the veteran offspinner for a six. Litton Das was rotating the strike well as Bangladesh moved to 87/1 at the halfway stage. The partnership was ended by Noor Ahmad who beat Litton on the sweep to trap him in front off his first ball, with Afghanistan having to use the review to get the decision in their favour. Ghazanfar, who had conceded 27 off his first two overs, came back into the attack and Tanzid took a single off him to bring up a 28-ball fifty. But he was caught in the deep off Noor, soon after Towhid Hridoy hit a six off the left-arm wrist spinner. Shamim Hossain and Hridoy hit a few boundaries as Bangladesh gave themselves a steady platform heading into the death overs.

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Rashid wrapped up his spell strongly, dismissing Shamim leg-before in his final over while conceding just five runs in the 16th. Despite being struck for a four by Jaker Ali, Noor was tidy in the 17th, giving away only six. Afghanistan kept Bangladesh under pressure as Farooqi delivered a nine-run over without conceding a boundary. Omarzai then removed Hridoy in the penultimate over, which cost just six runs. Farooqi closed out with another nine-run over, as Bangladesh managed only three boundaries – two of them by Nurul Hasan – in the last five overs in a limp finish.

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Bangladesh had an excellent start with the ball as Nasum Ahmed, back into the XI, struck off his first ball to get Sediqullah Atal out lbw and began with a wicket maiden. The first run of the innings came via a wide from Taskin, who was the other inclusion in the eleven. Ibrahim Zadran got a lucky break as he was put down by Rishad Hossain at point off Taskin, after which both the openers got a few boundaries. Afghanistan, though, suffered another setback as Zadran was out lbw to Nasum, with the umpire's call favouring Bangladesh. Despite a boundary for Gulbadin Naib off Mustafizur Rahman, it was a powerplay that belonged to Bangladesh as they made early inroads and kept the scoring in check.

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Rishad started his spell with a quiet over before Gulbadin and Gurbaz got Afghanistan going, getting a four and a six respectively off Shamim in a 16-run eighth over. They took Afghanistan past 50 before Gulbadin got a leading edge to hand Rishad a return catch. The onus was on Gurbaz to shoulder the bulk of the responsibility and he got a six off Saif before Rishad ended his stay in the 11th over as he top-edged a sweep. Nabi also a hit a six off Saif before falling in the next over, with Mustafizur forcing an inside edge onto the stumps to leave Afghanistan five down for 77. Finally, there was some positive movement in the scoreboard as Omarzai struck two sixes and a four of Saif to get 20 in the over as Afghanistan crossed 100, even as Rishad finished with an economical spell.

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Omarzai got his third six by pulling a Taskin delivery but the bowler hit back with a slower one to remove the well-set batter. Skipper Rashid then struck a no-look six off Mustafizur over fine leg, and also got a boundary in the over as 14 came off it, leaving Afghanistan needing 31 off the last three overs. Karim Janat was run out in the 18th over, with Nasum conceding only 4 to finish with excellent figures of 2-11. Rashid hit a four off Mustafizur in the 19th over but the bowler had the last laugh, getting the captain to guide one to short third man. Ghazanfar followed soon after, giving the left-armer his third wicket. Afghanistan needed 22 off the final over and although they fell short of the finish line, Noor's two sixes ensured the NRR did not take a huge hit.

@B10$ Bangladesh 154/5 in 20 overs (Tanzid Hasan Tamim 52, Saif Hassan 30; Noor Ahmad 2-23, Rashid Khan 2-26) beat Afghanistan 146 in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 35, Azmatullah Omarzai 30; Mustafizur Rahman 3-28, Nasum Ahmed 2-11, Rishad Hossain 2-18) by 8 runs.

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Bangladesh are done with their fixtures in the group stage and now await the result of the Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan game on September 18. The equation for Afghanistan is simple – win and qualify for the Super 4s. For Bangladesh to get through, they'll need Sri Lanka to beat Afghanistan or lose by a big margin (by around 70 runs or 50 balls to spare).