Bangladesh v Afghanistan: The numbers that matter

Following the dramatic two-wicket win in the first T20I, Bangladesh will be eyeing their first ever bilateral T20I series win over Afghanistan when the two sides lock horns in the second match at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.

Bangladesh and Afghanistan have played two bilateral series so far in the format, with Rashid Khan and Co. winning one and the other one ending in a draw.

Among the 10 matches that the two sides played in this format, Afghanistan have won six while Bangladesh now have four victories.

However, in the five T20Is that have been played in Bangladesh, the Tigers have managed to win three while losing two.

Bangladesh's highest total against Afghanistan is 155 for eight, posted in Mirpur in 2022 and their lowest against the same opposition was also at the same venue, 115 for nine last year.

Afghanistan's highest total against Bangladesh, meanwhile, was 167 for eight in Dehradun in 2018 while their lowest total is 72 in Mirpur, which was back in 2014.

The win in the first T20I was Bangladesh's first win in this format at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in three games.

Afghanistan players during training at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Friday. Photo: Firoz Ahmed

The average first innings total in Sylhet is 153 runs, and in the last five games the average first innings total is 154.

Teams batting second have won eight out of nine matches at this venue. Interestingly, pacers are ahead in terms of picking wickets in Sylhet compared to the spinners. The seamers have picked up 38 wickets while the spinners accounted for 20 wickets in the last five matches.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed is one wicket away from his 50th T20I wicket. He has 49 wickets in 53 innings at an economy rate of 7.71.