**Bangladesh Pip Afghanistan in 2nd T20I to Seal Series Victory**
*By Rajdeep Saha | Oct 04, 2025*
Shoriful Islam was the star of the show as Bangladesh edged out Afghanistan by two wickets in a thrilling encounter during the second T20 International at Sharjah. This thrilling win gave Bangladesh an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
### Bangladesh’s Tumultuous Chase
Chasing a target of 148 runs, Bangladesh’s innings saw a rollercoaster of emotions. After a promising start, the batting lineup crumbled dramatically, sliding from 102/4 to 129/8 within just four overs. Key wickets fell at crucial moments—Noor Ahmad dismissed Shamim Hossain for a well-made 33, while Nasum Ahmed also fell after a promising start.
Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai was lethal in the 18th over, taking two wickets and leaving Bangladesh requiring 19 runs off the final two overs with only two wickets in hand.
### The Final Push: Nurul and Shoriful to the Rescue
In a tense finish, Nurul Hasan and Shoriful Islam showed composure under pressure. Nurul hit a six off Noor Ahmad and took a smart single, keeping the chase alive. Shoriful followed up by smashing a boundary, reducing the target to just two runs in the final over.
Taking charge, Shoriful struck Omarzai’s first ball down the ground for the winning runs. Nurul remained unbeaten on 31 off 21 balls, while Shoriful contributed a crucial 11 not out from six deliveries.
### Middle-Order Resilience After Early Losses
Afghanistan got off to a perfect start with Azmatullah Omarzai dismissing openers Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain. Though Saif Hassan managed a couple of sixes, he was soon dismissed by Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the fifth over.
However, the steady 56-run partnership between Shamim Hossain and Jaker Ali for the fourth wicket rebuilt Bangladesh’s innings. Jaker was eventually dismissed by Rashid Khan for the second time in the series, but their partnership laid the foundation for the successful chase.
### Afghanistan’s Bowling and Batting Performance
Earlier, Afghanistan’s openers Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal gave captain Rashid Khan a solid start. Atal hit two sixes off Rishad Hossain before being caught at long-on for 23. Nasum Ahmed then dismissed Zadran for 38, and Wafiullah Tarakhil fell cheaply.
Afghanistan struggled in the middle overs, being reduced to 90/4 and then 118/5, eventually finishing with 147/5.
### Spotlight on Azmatullah Omarzai
Azmatullah Omarzai was the standout performer for Afghanistan with a brilliant all-round display. He scored an unbeaten 19 runs and took four crucial wickets, finishing with figures of 4/23. This marked his second four-wicket haul in T20 Internationals, bringing his total to 39 wickets at an average of 29.02.
With this victory, Bangladesh has not only ensured the series win but also demonstrated resilience and fighting spirit to overcome a strong Afghan side. The final match promises to be an exciting conclusion to the series.
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