Emon and Tanzid shine as Bangladesh bounce back after losing 6 wickets for just 9 runs

Emon and Tanzid shine as Bangladesh bounce back after losing 6 wickets for just 9 runs

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.

Bangladesh pulled off a dramatic four-wicket win in the first T20I against Afghanistan, chasing 152 with eight balls to spare. The match had everything blistering batting, a shocking collapse, and a cool-headed finish.

Openers Parvez Hossain Emon and Tanzid Hasan gave Bangladesh a dream start. They smashed 109 runs in just 11.3 overs, dominating Afghanistan’s bowlers with fearless strokeplay. Emon hit 54 off 37 balls, while Tanzid made 51. Their partnership was Bangladesh’s first-ever 100+ opening stand against Afghanistan in T20Is.

Emon began the fireworks by hammering Mohammad Nabi for 16 runs in the fifth over, including two sixes and surviving two dropped catches. Tanzid, back in the team after missing two games, joined the party with big sixes off Nabi and Noor Ahmad. Both batters also cleared the ropes in the 10th over against Sharafuddin Ashraf.

Just when Bangladesh looked set for an easy win, Rashid Khan unleashed a stunning spell. He took four wickets in two overs, triggering a collapse that saw Bangladesh lose six wickets for just nine runs in 25 balls.

Fareed Ahmad removed Emon after dropping him earlier. Rashid bowled Saif Hassan with a googly and dismissed Tanzid with a sharp leg-spinner. In his next over, Rashid trapped Jaker Ali and Shamim Hossain lbw. Noor Ahmad joined the party by getting Tanzim Hasan lbw. From 109/0, Bangladesh slumped to 118/6. The match was suddenly wide open.

With only two recognised batters left, Nurul Hasan and Rishad Hossain stepped up under pressure. Nurul, still recovering from a poor knock in the Asia Cup, played a calm and calculated innings. He hit two sixes in his unbeaten 23. Rishad, despite recent poor form, found his rhythm and struck the winning boundary his third of the innings as Bangladesh sealed the win with eight balls to spare.

Earlier, Afghanistan were restricted to 152 thanks to disciplined bowling and sharp fielding. In which, Taskin Ahmed went for three boundaries in the first over, but Bangladesh bounced back. Whereas, Nasum Ahmed bowled Ibrahim Zadran as he tried to slog. And Tanzim Hasan’s delivery reared up and forced Sediqullah Atal to edge to slip.

A mix-up between Gurbaz and Rasooli led to a run-out, with both batters stranded at the non-striker’s end. Along with that, Rishad Hossain got Mohammad Ishaq caught at deep square leg soon after the powerplay. Afghanistan never really recovered from the early blows and ended with a below-par total.