Tigers pick back to back win against Aussies

Bangladesh Cricket Team defeated visiting Australia in the second T20 international of the five match series in Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur on Wednesday. The tigers clinched the victory with 5 wickets left in hands. Skipper Mahmudullah and his team lead the series 2-0.

Afif Hossain and Nurul Hasan Sohan's unbeaten 55-run partnership helped Tigers win the second T20I by 5 wickets and take lead of the series. Afif and Sohan both remained unbeaten on 37 and 22 runs respectively. Shakib Al Hasan and Mahedi Hasan chipped in with valuable 20s which helped but Afif and Sohan finished the job for the hosts. Disciplined Bangladesh bowling and fielding effort saw Australia collapse in a low scoring first innings. Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman scalped three wickets and Shoriful Islam’s two wickets helped Bangladesh to restrict Australia to 121 for seven wickets. The visitors repeated the same, as the openers failed to get off to a good start, losing their first wicket in the middle of the third over. Nasum Ahmed caught Alex Carey while attempting to slog over mid-wicket off Mahedi Hasan. Then Mustafizur Rahman grabbed the wicket of Josh Philippe in his very first over, shuffled the batsman to play the on the leg-side before hitting the stumps. He returned scoring 10 off 14 deliveries. Youngster Afif Hossain was unfazed by the mounting pressure. He had Nurul Hasan Sohan at the other end, striking an unbroken partnership to see Bangladesh over the line with eight balls to spare.

Right-handed batter Mitchell Marsh and Moises Henriques stitched a partnership of 57 runs for the third wicket, however, Shakib Al Hasan broke the well-setted stand as he bowled Henriques, who was looking for quick runs. The batter played a knock of 30 runs in 25 balls including three boundaries and a single six. Young pacer Shoriful Islam delivered a major blow to the Aussies when he returned Marsh (45) in the 17th over. The batter attempted a swing over long-on but only got an outside edge, which was taken by the wicket-keeper. Marsh was out on 45 for the second time in two matches. Mustafizur struck again when he bowled skipper Matthew Wade (4) and returned Ashton Agar (0) who was caught behind in the same over. Following the two straight wickets, Ashton Turner was caught by Mahmudullah off Shoriful in the following over as he tried to cut it over the off side. Earlier, Wade won the toss and decided to bat first.  Both the teams are unchanged from the first T20I, which Bangladesh won by 23 runs at the same venue Tuesday. The next match will be held on Friday at the same venue.