Tigers end up on 155 for eight

Bangladesh have managed to throw a target of no more than 156 runs to Afghanistan in the second T20I of the two-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Murpur today.

The Tigers ended on 155 for eight in 20 overs but would be a bit dissapointed to miss out on 15-20 runs after Liton Das' 60 and good contributions from Afif Hossain in the middle order and debutant opener Munim Shahriar had laid a decent foundation. But since Liton and Afif departed in quick succession around the 17th over, the Tigers couldn't quite capitalise in the death overs. 

Rashid Khan has bowled economically for the visitors, with figures of 15 for one in four overs while Fazalhaq Farooqi and Azmatullah Omarzai each scalped a brace.   

[Wicket] Overs 17.2; BAN- 127/6: Afif gets caught out at cover. Opted for power as he tried to whack Omarzai off the park. Timing was way off. Gone at the wrong time.
Afif Hossain c Mohammad Nabi b Azmatullah Omarzai 25 (24b 2x4) SR: 104.16

[Wicket] Overs 17.2; BAN- 126/5: Liton deceived by a slower delivery as he tried to work it over short fine leg.
Liton Das c Azmatullah Omarzai b Fazalhaq Farooqi 60 (44b 4x4 2x6) SR: 136.36

Liton brings up his fifty, Tigers reach 100 as batters approach showtime

Bangladesh are 102 for four after 14 overs. 

Liton brings up his fifty, the fifth of his T20I career, off 34 balls after skipper Mahmudullah Riyad fell to medium pacer Azmatullah Omarzai. Afif Hossain Dhrubo has given the half-centurian a good company so far.  

[Wicket] Overs 10.5; BAN- 80/4: Mahmudullah brings his downfall by trying to casually flick a Omarzai yorker on to the leg side.  
Mahmudullah lbw b Azmatullah Omarzai 10 (7b 1x6) SR: 142.85

Bangladesh are 71 for three after 10 overs. 

Liton Das is batting wonderfully on 34 off 26 balls, laced with two fours and a six, joined by skipper Mahmudullah Riyad at the crease on nine off five deliveries. 

[Wicket] Overs 7.4; BAN- 47/3: Now Shakib gone. Qais Ahmed strikes as Shakib tries to sweep the leg spinner but could not time it. Mujeeb grabs the ball as it falls from some distance.
Shakib Al Hasan c Mujeeb Ur Rahman b Qais Ahmad 5 (6b) SR: 83.33

Munim leaves after showing promise; Liton on song 

Bangladesh are 45 for two after seven overs. Munim Shahriar had to depart and now Shakib Al Hasan has arrived in the middle to join Liton Das, who appears set to continue his superb form.  

[Wicket] Overs 4.6; BAN- 25/2: Munim's promising innings ends. The debutant fell to Rashid Khan for a leg-berfore as he tried to slog sweep the leg spinner. Munim opted for a review but replay showed no bat involved.
Munim Shahriar lbw b Rashid Khan 17 (18b 3x4) SR: 94.44 

Naim departs early after a shaky stay in the middle

Munim Shahriar began his international career in style. The right-hander tackled a pitched up Fazalhaq Farooqi delivery, the second legal delivery of innings, with a lofted drive over extra-cover.

Munim's partner Naim Sheikh, on the other hand, twice had almost played on to the stumps and had lived dangerously in the first over.

[Wicket] Overs 2.1; BAN- 10/1: Farooqi returned in the third over, his second, and trapped Naim in front with a pacey yorker, however, Afghanistan had to opt for a review to get the decision in their favour.  
Mohammad Naim lbw b Fazalhaq Farooqi 2 (5b) SR: 40

Liton Das has arrived at number three ahead of Shakib Al Hasan.

Bangladesh are 14 for one after three overs. 

Debutants Munim, Yasir make the cut as Tigers elect to bat

Bangladesh have won the toss and elected to bat first in the first T20I of the two-match series against Afghanistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
 
The Tigers are featuring two debutants -- Munim Shahriar and Yasir Ali Rabbi -- who made their way into the playing eleven on the back of impressive performances in the recently-concluded Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League. 

Naim Sheikh also made it to the team while Mushfiqur Rahim had to be ruled out, out of a precautionary measure, following a thumb injury the experienced batter suffered yesterday in training. 

Twenty-three-year-old Munim made 178 runs in six matches for Fortune Barishal at a strike rate of 152 in the recently concluded Bangabandhu BPL.

Playing XIs:

Bangladesh: Naim Sheikh, Munim Shahriar, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das, Mahmudullah (capt), Yasir Ali, Afif Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

Afghanistan: Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Darwish Rasooli, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi (capt), Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Qais Ahmed