DEHRADUN (India): Spin sensation Rashid Khan claimed four wickets to set up Afghanistan’s series-clinching win over Bangladesh in the second Twen­ty20 International on Tues­day in the Indian city of Dehradun.

Rashid’s 4-12 helped restrict Bangladesh to 134-8 as the hosts surpassed the modest total to win by six wickets and take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.

Samiullah Shenwari, who hit 49 off 41 balls, and Mohammad Nabi, with an unbeaten 31, took Afghanistan home with seven balls to spare.

The Afghans seemed to be in trouble at 79-3 in the 14th over but Nabi smashed three fours and two sixes to ensure smooth sailing for his team during his 15-ball blitz.

But it was the 19-year-old Rashid who set up the victory with his triple strike in an over and was poised to claim a hat-trick after sending back Tamim Iqbal, who top-scored with 43, and Mosaddek Hossain on consecutive deliveries.

Abu Hider denied Rashid the hat-trick and went on to hit an unbeaten 21 off 14 balls to give the Bangladesh total respect after the visitors elected to bat first.

Rashid, who had also starred in Afghanistan’s opening win of the series with his three wickets, got his second man-of-the-match award.

Nabi also got two crucial scalps and even though fellow spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman went wicketless the teenager gave away just 15 runs in his four overs.

Bangladesh off-spinner Mosaddek took two wickets to try and choke Afghanistan in their chase but the Bangladesh did not have enough runs on the board for their bowlers to defend.

The Asghar Stanikzai-led Afghanistan, who are tuning up for their debut Test against India starting June 14, are scheduled to play the final match of the series on Thursday at the same venue.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH:

Liton Das c Rashid b Zadran 1

Tamim Iqbal b Rashid 43

Sabbir Rahman c Shenwari b Nabi 13

Mushfiqur Rahim st Shahzad b Nabi 22

Mahmudullah b Janat 14

Shakib Al Hasan c Najibullah b Rashid 3

Soumya Sarkar c Stanikzai b Rashid 3

Mosaddek Hossain b Rashid 0

Abu Hider not out 21

Nazmul Islam not out 6

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-2, W-2) 8

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 20 overs) 134

FALL OF WKTS: 1-1, 2-30, 3-75, 4-93, 5-101, 6-103, 7-103, 8-108.

DID NOT BAT: Rubel Hossain.

BOWLING: Mujeeb-ur-Rahman 4-0-15-0; Shapoor Zadran 4-0-42-1 (1w); Mohammad Nabi 4-0-19-2; Karim Janat 4-0-40-1; Rashid Khan 4-0-12-4 (1w).

AFGHANISTAN:

Mohammad Shahzad lbw b Abu 4

Usman Ghani c Soumya b Rubel 21

Samiullah Shenwari b Mosaddek 49

Asghar Stanikzai st Mushfiqur b Mosaddek 4

Mohammad Nabi not out 31

Shafiqullah Shafiq not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-4) 6

TOTAL (for four wkts, 18.5 overs) 135

FALL OF WKTS: 1-38, 2-57, 3-79, 4-115.

DID NOT BAT: Najibullah Zadran, Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Shapoor Zadran

BOWLING: Nazmul Islam 4-2-14-0 (1w); Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-37-0; Rubel Hossain 3.5-0-38-1; Abu Hider 3-0-14-1 (3w); Mahmudullah 1-0-9-0; Mosaddek Hossain 3-0-21-2.

RESULT: Afghanistan won by six wickets to lead three-match series 2-0.

UMPIRES: Izzatullah Safi (Afghanistan) and Bismillah Jan Shinwari (Afghanistan).

TV UMPIRE: Ahmed Shah Pakteen (Afghanistan).

MATCH REFEREE: A.J. Pycroft (Zimbabwe).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Rashid Khan.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2018