Tanzid, Emon help Tigers eke out four-wicket win against Afghanistan

Bangladesh openers Tanzid Tamim and Parvez Emon scored half-centuries to set up a four-wicket win in the first T20I of the three-match series against Afghanistan in Sharjah on Thursday. 

Tanzid notched up his eight T20I fifty as he put away three fours and as many sixes in a 37-ball 51, while Emon's 37-ball 54 -- built on reprieves on 19 and 27 -- featured fours fours and three sixes as Bangladesh chased down 151-9 in 18.4 overs. The duo put together a 109-run stand that looked set to take Bangladesh home comfortably until Emon was trapped lbw by pacer Fareed Ahmad in the 12th over.

Bangladesh were fortunate in the end as they almost made a meal of the foundation laid by their openers. After Emon's dismissal, Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan ran through the Tigers' batting lineup and turned the contest on its head. The leg-spinner struck twice in the 13th over, removing Saif Hassan (0) and Tanzid, before returning in his next over to dismiss captain Jaker Ali (6) and Shamim Hossain (0). Rashid finished with figures of 4 for 18, triggering a Bangladesh collapse that saw them slip from 109 for no loss to 118 for six.

Bangladesh, however, managed to come out of the storm on the back of Nurul Hasan Sohan and Rishad Hossain. The duo capitalised on the fact that Rashid and left-arm wrist-spinner Noor Ahmad had no overs left to bowl in the final four overs and targeted the pacers. The duo forged a quickfire 35-run stand, plundering the home side them for seven, 11, and 17 runs in the next three overs to take Bangladesh home. Sohan remained unbeaten on 23 off 13 balls, thanks to two sixes and a four, and Rishad's nine-ball 14 saw him hit three fours.  

Earlier, Mohammad Nabi's late assault lifted Afghanistan to 151 for nine after Rahmanullah Gurbaz's steady knock had provided the base. Gurbaz struck three sixes and two fours in his 40 off 31 deliveries, but his dismissal in the 15th over left the hosts struggling at 95 for six.

Nabi then counterattacked with a 25-ball 38, hammering four sixes and a four to drag Afghanistan to a competitive total. He found support from Azmatullah Omarzai (18 off 18) and Sharafuddin Ashraf (17 off 12).

For Bangladesh, Tanzim Sakib (2-34) and Rishad Hossain (2-33) bagged two wickets apiece, while Mustafizur Rahman (1-24), Taskin Ahmed (1-40), and Nasum Ahmed (1-18) also chipped in.

Bangladesh made one notable change to their XI, leaving out the out-of-form Towhid Hridoy. The 23-year-old had struck a match-winning half-century against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup Super Four but has otherwise struggled for runs before and after that innings.

Jaker Ali once again led the side in the absence of regular skipper Liton Das. The Tigers fielded three pacers — Taskin, Mustafizur, and Tanzim Sakib -- along with two spinners, Rishad and Nasum. All three openers -- Tanzid, Emon, and Saif Hassan -- were included, while wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan retained his place despite a poor outing against Pakistan in the Asia Cup Super Four.

The win gives Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the series, with the second T20I scheduled for Friday at the same venue.

Nabi, Gurbaz lead fightback as Afghanistan post 151-8

Mohammad Nabi's late fireworks lifted Afghanistan to 151-9 after Rahmanullah Gurbaz's steady knock provided the foundations in the first T20I of the three-match series against Bangladesh in Sharjah on Thursday.

Nabi smashed four sixes and a four in a 25-ball 38, rescuing his side from a batting collapse. Earlier, opener Gurbaz struck a watchful 40 off 31 deliveries, featuring three sixes and two fours, to anchor the innings.

Afghanistan had stumbled to 73-5 by the 12th over, and Gurbaz's dismissal in the 15th, just when he was primed to accelerate, left the hosts staring at a sub-par total. But Nabi's counterattack, supported by Azmatullah Omarzai's run-a-ball 18 and Sharafuddin Ashraf's brisk 17 off 12, pushed the total to a competitive 151.

For Bangladesh, Tanzim Sakib (2-34) and Rishad Hossain (2-33) claimed two wickets apiece, while Mustafizur Rahman (1-24), Taskin Ahmed (1-40), and Nasum Ahmed (1-18) chipped in with one each.

Hridoy left out as Tigers field first 

Out-of-form batter Towhid Hridoy was left out as Bangladesh were sent to field first in the opening T20I of the three-match series against Afghanistan in Sharjah on Thursday.

Hridoy, who played a match-winning half-century against Sri Lanka to guide Bangladesh into the Asia Cup Super Four, has otherwise struggled for form with the bat both before and after that innings.

The Tigers entered the contest fresh off their Asia Cup campaign, with their last outing a week ago against Pakistan in the Super Four stage.

Jaker Ali continued to captain the side in the absence of regular skipper Litton Das.

Bangladesh fielded three pacers -- Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Tanzim Sakib -- and two spinners -- Rishad Hossain and Nasum Ahmed. All three openers, Tanzid Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, and Saif Hassan, were included in the playing XI, while Nurul Hasan Sohan kept his place despite a disappointing performance in the Tigers' previous match against Pakistan.

Bangladesh: Jaker Ali (c & wk), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Nurul Hasan, Shamim Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib

Afhganistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan (c), Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mohammad Ishaq, Fareed Ahmed