AFG vs BAN 2018, 2nd T20I: We were 15-20 Runs Short; Kept Losing Wickets - Shakib Al Hasan

Afghanistan registered yet another comprehensive victory against the Bangla Tigers by six wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

It was a sensational bowling performance by Rashid Khan yet again, as he bamboozled Bangladesh batsmen with his variations. It was a splendid piece of bowling by Rashid, as he finished with magnificent figures of 4/12 in his allotted four overs.

Courtesy impressive knocks from Samiullah Shenwari and Mohammad Nabi and a splendid spell by Rashid Khan, Afghanistan registered a comprehensive victory in the end.

Shakib Al Hasan again won the toss and opted to bat. Shapoor Zadran provided the breakthrough in the 2^nd over in the form of Liton Das. After a brief partnership of 29 runs between Tamim Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman, it was Mohammad Nabi who git rid off Sabbir Rahman with a flatter trajectory delivery.

Wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals, as Bangladesh failed to accelerate on the scoring rate. Leggie Rashid Khan was at his imperious best. He continued his match-winning form and bagged four wickets to derail the Bangladesh middle order. It was some brilliant bowling which restricted Bangladesh to a moderate total of 134 runs in their allotted 20 overs.

Tamim was the top scorer for the visitors with a sedate 43 off 48 deliveries. Barring Rashid, Mohammad Nabi also bagged a couple of wickets to restrict Bangladesh. The Afghanistan openers got off to a pretty steady start.

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Mohammad Shehzad and Usman Ghani shared a 38-run partnership before Abu Hider removed Shehzad with a good delivery. He struck four fours and a six during his knock of 24 off 18 balls.

Usman Ghani and Asghar Stanikzai also fell in quick time. However, the target was always going to be too little for Afghanistan given the batting line-up they had.

Samiullah Shenwari scored a fluent 49 off 41 deliveries which included a couple of fours and three sixes. It was Mohammad Nabi who provided the late flurry with a-15 ball 31 which included three fours and a couple of sixes.

It was yet again a sensational performance by Afghanistan which helped them seal the 2^nd T20I and take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Mosaddek Hossain was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh bagging a couple of wickets for 21 runs.

Here is what the losing captain, Shakib Al Hasan said at the presentation ceremony,

“I thought we bowled and fielded well. We were 15-20 runs short, kept losing wickets after the good start we had. They kept the pressure on us in the middle overs, and we lost wickets.”

“Couldn’t get to a good score and that’s where the match was lost. He (Rashid) bowled really well, both the games. They’ve got some world class spinners, and they’re doing their job.”

“We need to come up with better plans against them. They (Bangladeshi bowlers) executed their plan well today; overall we bowled really well. In these kind of pitches, 135 is hard to defend, but the credit goes to the boys for trying hard.”

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