Nurul Hasan Sohan once again proved his finishing credentials, steering Bangladesh to a tense two-wicket victory over Afghanistan in the second T20I at Sharjah on Friday. The win gave the Tigers an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with one game to spare.
Chasing 148, Bangladesh lost both openers early and slipped to 24 for 3. Debutant Saif Hassan made a brisk 18, before skipper Jaker Ali (32 off 25) and Shamim Hossain (33 off 22) rebuilt with a 56-run stand. But it was Sohan’s calm, unbeaten 31 off 21 balls — supported by Shoriful Islam’s handy 11* — that saw Bangladesh home at 150 for 8 in 19.1 overs. Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai was the standout bowler, claiming 4 for 23.
Earlier, Afghanistan posted 147 for 5 after being put in to bat. Ibrahim Zadran (38) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (30) provided the foundation, while Mohammad Nabi’s late 20 off 12 lifted the total. For Bangladesh, Nasum Ahmed (2 for 25) and Rishad Hossain (2 for 45) struck key blows, while Shoriful Islam conceded just 13 runs in his four overs.
The series win followed Bangladesh’s four-wicket success in the opener, underlining their dominance. The final T20I will also take place in Sharjah on October 5.
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