Afghans go top in T20 tri-series

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Sept 15, (AP): Mohammad Nabi’s 54-ball 84 not out was complemented by off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s career-best 4-15 as Afghanistan beat Bangladesh by 25 runs to go top in the Twenty20 tri-series on Sunday.

Nabi’s fireworks saw Afghanistan recover from 40-4 to compile a respectable 164-6 after which Rahman’s bowling helped to dismiss Bangladesh for 139 in 19.5 overs.

Nabi struck three fours and seven sixes, and he shared a fifth-wicket stand of 79 runs in around 10 overs with Asghar Afghan to rescue the innings.

“It’s always tough to get out of such tough situations and post such a good score,” Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan said. “I think the senior players took the responsibility. That’s how we recovered from four down to 160-plus.”

Afghan, who survived on 31 after a no ball from spinner Taijul Islam, scored 40 off 37.

“I think that no ball cost us big time, that over went for 17 runs and that changed the momentum,” Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan said.

Pace bowler Mohammad Saifuddin produced his career-best 4-33 for Bangladesh.

Gulbadin Naib took 2-27 and Rashid Khan 2-23 for Afghanistan.

It was Afghanistan’s second straight victory after beating Zimbabwe by 28 runs on Saturday.

Scoreboard

MIRPUR, Bangladesh, Sept 15, (RTRS): Scoreboard at close of play of match 3 between Bangladesh and Afghanistan on Sunday.

AFGHANISTAN

R. Gurbaz b Saifuddin     0

H. Zazai c Das b S. Al Hasan           1

N. Tarakai c Rahman b Saifuddin                11

A. Afghan c Rahman b Saifuddin                40

N. Zadran c Sarkar b S. Al Hasan 5

M. Nabi not out                84

G. Naib b Saifuddin         0

K. Janat not out 5

Extras: (8b, 2lb, 2nb, 6w)              18

Total: (20 overs, 6 wkts)                164

Fall of Wickets: 1-0 (Gurbaz), 2-10 (Zazai), 3-19 (Tarakai), 4-40 (N. Zadran), 5-119 (Afghan), 6-121 (Naib)

Did Not Bat: R. Khan, Malik, Ur Rahman

Bowling: Saifuddin 4-0-33-4, S. Al Hasan 4-1-18-2, M. Rahman 4-0-25-0, T. Islam 4-0-32-0, Sarkar 2-0-31-0, M. Hossain 1-0-12-0, Mahmudullah 1-0-3-0

BANGLADESH

L. Das c Tarakai b Ur Rahman       0

M. Rahim b Malik             5

S. Al Hasan c R. Khan b Ur Rahman           15

Mahmudullah c Tarakai b Naib   44

S. Sarkar lbw Ur Rahman               0

S. Rahman c Naib b Ur Rahman  24

A. Hossain c Zadran b Naib           16

M. Hossain b R. Khan      12

M. Saifuddin c&b R. Khan             2

T. Islam not out 0

M. Rahman c (Sub) b Malik          15

Extras: (3lb, 1nb, 2w)      6

Total: (19.5 overs, all out)             139

Fall of Wickets: 1-0 (Das), 2-11 (Rahim), 3-31 (S. Al Hasan), 4-32 (Sarkar), 5-90 (Mahmudullah), 6-95 (S. Rahman), 7-115 (A. Hossain), 8-120 (Saifuddin), 9-124 (M. Hossain), 10-139 (M. Rahman)

Bowling: Ur Rahman 4-0-15-4, Malik 2.5-0-33-2, Janat 3-0-27-0, Nabi 2-0-11-0, R. Khan 4-0-23-2, Naib 4-0-27-2

Match Result: Afghanistan win by 25 runs

Umpires: Masudur Mukul, Gazi Sohel

TV Umpire: Sharfuddoula Saikat

Match Referee: Brian Broad