Nurul, Afif ensure Bangladesh thrash Australia in 2nd T20I
An unbeaten partnership between Afif Hossain and Nurul Hasan Sohan pulled Bangladesh out of a vulnerable position and ensured the Tigers register a convincing five-wicket victory over Australia in the second T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
The victory also meant that Bangladesh now lead the five-match series 2-0. It is also the first time that the Tigers have defeated Australia in back-to-back games in any format.
In chase of a modest 121 for seven posted by Australia, Bangladesh were reeling at 67 for five after 11.2 overs. From there on, Nurul and Afif strung an unbeaten partnership of 56 runs as the duo ensured Bangladesh get over the line comfortably with five wickets and eight balls to spare.
Afif was the most impressive one, playing exquisite cover drives, pick-up shots and pull-shots during his unbeaten 31-ball 37. The young left-hander smashed a total of five fours and a six during his knock.
Afif was ably partnered by Nurul, who remained unbeaten for a 21-ball 22. Not as aggressive as his partner Afif, right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul paced his innings according to the demand of the chase, striking a total of three boundaries during his stay at the crease.
Bangladesh had lost openers Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Naim early but a 17-ball 26 from Shakib Al Hasan and a 24-ball 23 from Mahedi Hasan had provided stability to the Tigers for some time in the middle. However, with Shakib and skipper Mahmudullah Riyad (0 off 4) departing in space of just six deliveries, Bangladesh were left in a spot of bother at one stage of the game.
The Tigers' trouble compounded when Mahedi threw his wicket away, stumped off an Adam Zampa delivery by unnecessarily going down the track in the 12th over.
However, Nurul and Afif remained firm since then, making sure the Tigers complete the run chase without any more hitches along the way.
Earlier, a compact bowling display from the Tigers, led by left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman, saw them restrict Australia to a modest total.
It was a top-notch bowling display from the Tigers with Mustafizur being the pick of the bowlers as he ended with impressive figures of three for 23 in his four overs. Another left-armer in Shoriful Islam also picked up two wickets giving away just 27 runs in four overs.
For Australia, in-form batsman Marsh scored a team-high of 42-ball 45 before being dismissed by Shoriful in the 17th over.
The spinners were also handy for Bangladesh with Shakib and Mahedi picking up a wicket each while bowling at miserly economy rates of 5.50 and 4 respectively.
Mahedi's luck runs out
[Wicket] Overs 11.2; Ban 67/5: Mahedi Hasan, who has been living dangerously since coming on to bat, has been stumped off an Adam Zampa delivery. The right-hander went down the track but fails to connect and the wicketkeeper does the rest. Previously, Mahedi skied the ball on three occasions but managed to survive as every time the ball fell just short of a running Aussie fielder. However, Mahedi had struck Zampa for a massive six earlier and it seemed as if he had settled down a bit since then. But a sudden rush of blood saw him depart after a 24-ball 23.
Tigers in trouble as Shakib, Riyad depart in quick succession
[Wicket] Overs 9.3; Ban 59/4: Bangladesh lose another crucial wicket -- that of the skipper Mahmudullah Riyad. Just after an over after Shakib's dismissal, Mahmudullah lost his wicket to spinner Ashton Agar. The ball was spinning away from the right-hander but Mahmudullah played at it and got an inside edge as he dragged it onto his stumps. Bangladesh lose two crucial wickets in space of just six deliveries.
Shakib falls after a 17-ball 26
[Wicket] Overs 8.3; Ban 58/3: Andrew Tye provides the biggest blow to Bangladesh as he picked up the prized wicket of Shakib Al Hasan, who was looking ominous. Shakib, who started off with three back-to-back boundaries off Mitchell Starc, had smashed Tye for a boundary down the leg side in the previous delivery. However, Tye bounced back as Shakib played across the line and paid the price for it with his stumps being shattered. Shakib walks out after a promising 17-ball 26.
Soumya, Naim depart early
[Wicket] Overs 3.1; Ban 21/2: Mohammad Naim falls just an over after Soumya Sarkar's departure. A Josh Hazlewood delivery from over the wicket kept a bit low and Naim could not get his bat down in time as the ball struck the off stump. Naim goes after 13-ball 9.
Soumya fails once again
[Wicket] Overs 2.2; Ban 9/1: Left-handed opener Soumya Sarkar once again failed as he goes for a naught. Trying to swing across the line, Soumya saw his stumps shattered off a Mitchell Starc delivery. Soumya, who scored two in the first T20I, fails to even open his account this time around and the left-hander only has himself to blame as there was no footwork whatsoever.
Bangladesh restrict Australia to 121 for seven
Ace left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman scalped three wickets to help Bangladesh restrict Australia to a sub-par 121 for seven in the second T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
It has been a top-notch bowling display from the Tigers with Mustafizur being the pick of the bowlers as he ended with impressive figures of three for 23 in his four overs. Another left-armer in Shoriful Islam also picked up two giving away just 27 runs in four overs.
It was Mahedi who gave Tigers the first breakthrough, having left-handed Alex Carey caught at mid-on in the third over. Mustafizur then picked up Josh Philippe in the final over of the powerplay as the Aussies struggled to score runs.
Moises Henriques and Mitchell Marsh then strung together a crucial 57-run third-wicket stand but premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan removed Henriques in the 15th over before the duo could accelerate. Australia never looked in control of the game since then as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
For Australia, in-form batsman Marsh scored a team-high of 42-ball 45 before being dismissed by Shoriful in the 17th over.
The spinners were also handy for Bangladesh with Shakib and Mahedi picking up a wicket each while bowling very miserly.
Fizz gets two in two
[Wicket] Overs 17.4; Aus: 103/6: It's two in two for Mustafizur! The Fizz gets extra bounce off his slower delivery and that completely deceives left-hander Ashton Agar. The rising ball hit Agar's gloves and the keeper took a simple catch.
[Wicket] Overs 17.3; Aus: 103/5: Mustafizur Rahman gets his second on the day. This time it's the Australian skipper Matthew Wade, who walks across to the offside to play a paddle sweep, saw his stumps take a flight as he failed to connect.
Shoriful dismisses in-form Marsh
[Wicket] Overs 16.1; Aus 99/4: Shoriful Islam picks up the in-form and dangerous-looking Mitchell Marsh. With Australia looking to accelerate at the death, Marsh went for a big heave on the off-side but only manages to get a faint edge back to the keeper. Marsh's innings ends after a 42-ball 45-run knock.
Shakib removes Henriques to end crucial partnership
[Wicket] 14.2 Overs: Aus 88/3: Shakib Al Hasan gives Bangladesh a crucial breakthrough as he picks up the wicket of Moises Henriques and ended a 57-run stand between Henriques and Mitchell Marsh. Henriques tried to slog sweep but missed the ball completely as his stumps were shattered. Henriques goes after a promising 25-ball 30.
Marsh, Henriques rebuilding after strikes from Fizz, Mahedi
Update after 12 overs: Aus 67/2
After two early strikes from Mustafzur Rahman and Mahedi Hasan, Australia are rebuilding through in-form Mitchell Marsh and Moises Henriques. However, the Tigers did very well to have kept the scoring rate in check, not allowing the Aussies to score at a rate higher than six an over. The partnership between Marsh and Henriques now reached 36 off 38 deliveries.
Mahedi, Fizz strike in powerplay
[Wicket] Over 5.4, Aus: 31/2: Mustafizur Rahman picks up the other Australian opener Josh Philippe. Philppe totally misread the pace and length of the ball as he moved across the stumps to play on the leg side but was completely undone by a trademark Mustafizur slower delivery. The ball struck the top of leg stumps as Australia lose their second wicket. Philippe goes after 10 off 14.
[Wicket] Over 2.3, Aus: 13/1: Off-spinner Mahedi Hasan gives the Tigers an early breakthrough, having left-handed Alex Carey caught at mid-on in the third over. Carey, after yet another disappointing showing, walks out following a run-a-ball 11.
Australia opt to bat against Bangladesh in 2nd T20I
Australia have won the toss and elected to bat first against Bangladesh in the second T20I at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
Both the sides are unchanged from their first T20I.
Bangladesh team are in high spirits after registering a 23-run win in the first T20I -- Tigers' first-ever T20I victory against Australia -- at the same venue yesterday. The win also meant the Tigers now lead the five-match series 1-0.
Premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is eyeing two unique records in this series. The 34-year-old all-rounder is just four wickets away from becoming only the second player and first Bangladeshi to scalp 100 wickets in T20Is.
The only player to have reached the 100-wicket milestone in T20Is is Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga, who took 107 wickets in 84 matches.
Reaching the 100-wicket milestone in T20Is will also see Shakib become the first player in the format to have a double of 100 wickets and 1000 runs. Shakib, playing in his 81st T20I, has scored 1640 runs at an average of 23.76.
Can Shakib reach these milestones in today's game against the Aussies? Although the second T20I is being played on a different pitch, going by how the Mirpur pitch behaves usually -- providing ample help to spinners -- it won't be unlikely to see Shakib add one more feather in his cap.
Playing XI:
Bangladesh: Mahmudullah Riyad, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Naim, Shakib Al Hasan, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed
Australia: Alex Carey, Josh Philippe, Mitchell Marsh, Moises Henriques, Matthew Wade, Ashton Turner, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
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