Bangladesh beat Afghanistan by six wickets in the final T20I of the series in Sharjah on Sunday, October 5. With this victory, Bangladesh completed a 3-0 whitewash, ending Afghanistan’s hopes. The Afghans struggled to adjust to the pitch and left defeated.
Just like they did in the first two T20Is of the series, Afghanistan batted first in this game and put up a modest total of 143-9 on the board in their quota of 20 overs. Openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran, two of their most experienced batters, flattered to deceive and walked back to the pavilion with scores of 12 and 7, respectively. Only Darwish Rasooli (32) and Sediqullah Atal (28) bolstered the Afghan score and lent them some respectability against their opponents.
Lower-order hitters Azmatullah Omarzai (3) and Rashid Khan (12) also failed to make an impact. For Bangladesh, medium-pacer Mohammad Saifuddin starred with 3-15, while Tanzim Hasan Sakib and Nasum Ahmed took two wickets each.
This was redemption of sorts for Saifuddin, who had been treated so harshly by India in the recently concluded Asia Cup, with his deliveries sent to all corners of the ground. Afghanistan’s worries were clear by the way they batted in the powerplay, making no use of the fielding restrictions and scoring just 39 runs in the first six overs. The Bangladeshi bowlers stuck to their lines and lengths and rarely gave away any loose deliveries.
Bangladesh’s openers scored 24 before Parvez Hossain Emon (14) fell. Tanzid Hasan Tamim (33) and Saif Hassan (64 not out) then steered them close to victory. Mystery spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman took two wickets, but Afghanistan could not stop Bangladesh, who won with six wickets in hand. Saif remained unbeaten, supported by Nurul Hasan’s quick 10 not out. Bangladesh sealed the series 3-0.
