Live Cricket Score: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan T20I

CONSECUTIVE WINS FOR AFGHANISTANMustafizur Rahman hit some lusty blows in the last over but that proved too little as Bangladesh finished on 139, falling 26 runs short of the target. Yet again, it was Mohammad Nabi's blazing innings that put Afghanistan way ahead that would have been otherwise. Bangladesh's batting couldn't quite keep themselves in the chase after Mujeeb ur Rahman's 4-fer

Rashid Khan struck twice in the 19th over, after Afif Hossain fell to Gulbadin Naib in the earlier over to take Afghanistan on the cusp of a win. Only one wicket left

59 required off the last four overs, and Afif Hossain isn't giving up on the chase just as yet. Afif Hossain swipes Rashid Khan for a boundary, his second in three balls.

Some hope before a wicket falls

Sabbir and Mahmudullah kept Bangladesh afloat after those early strikes. Barring the odd reverse sweep, the duo hasn't tried anything flashy but the pair has kept the scorecard ticking over.

Oh, I have jinxed the pair! Mahmudullah in attempt to up the ante fell to Naib's slower one. Five down now.

Slippery rope

And now Zadran has got the big fish. Shakib has been dismissed. Rashid, who pouched the catch, screamed in delight. The ace all rounder could only miscue it to mid on. Zadran then sent Sarkar back to the hut with a quicker delivery. Golden duck for Sarkar as Bangladesh find themselves in all sorts of trouble at 32 for 4.

Scoop... and out

Oh, it has just got worse for Bangladesh. Rahim tried a cheeky shot by employing the scoop but could only hear the death rattle. Fareed, the successful bowler. We have seen Rahim attempt such shots before and not with much success. He is perhaps better off playing orthodox shots.

Liton falls

Bangladesh have lot one early in the chase. Liton Das, the mercurial opener, could only miscue Zadran to the fielder at cover. Not a good day for the openers.

Nabi pilots Afghanistan to 164

Mohammad Nabi has single-handedly piloted Afghanistan to 164. Yes, single-handedly. He gave a glimpse of his hitting prowess by tonking Sarkar for two sixes and two fours in a single over. Nabi's noteworthy innings can be capsulised by the fact that he strung together a partnership of 43 with Janat and his batting partner only got five runs. On the other hand, Saifuddin took a four-for.

Saifuddin comes to the fore

Unfortunately for Afghanistan, Afghan fell to Saifuddin after he was caught at long-on while the all-rounder showed his class by cleaning up Naib with a skiddy delivery.

Rearguard action

Afghan and the veteran Nabi have propped up Afghanistan with a sterling stand. Afghan thwacked Mossadek for a six while Nabi clubbed Taijul into the stands. Afghan continued to showcase his pyrotechnics by smacking Taijul for a couple of massive hits over deep midwicket in the 15th over.

In fact, Taijul could have dismissed Afghan after the batter smashed one into the hands of deep midwicket but it turned out that the spinner had overstepped.

In dire-straits

Afghanistan's batsmen are falling like nine pins. After clubbing Saifuddin for a six, Tarakai tries to send another one into the stands but finds the man stationed at deep midwicket. Inexperience coming into play.

To make matters worse, Najibullah, the star performer from the last game, chipped Shakib to long off.

Two down

Afghanistan are in more trouble and the entire Dhaka stadium has been lit up with the fans dancing in joy. Zazai, the hitter, tried to slog Shakib but could only eke out a top-edge. It was in the air for a long time before Liton pouched a well-judged catch at deep midwicket.

Peach from Saifuddin

Saifuddin is cock-a-hoop. The entire Dhaka crowd is ecstatic. The all rounder has removed Gurbaz, the opener, off the first ball of the match. A hint of outswing and seamed away to open up the Afghanistan batter like a can of worms before shattering the off-stump. Beauty from the all rounder. What a dream start!!

Toss and teams:

Afghanistan have won the crucial toss and elected to bat. The visitors would look to choke the opposition with their spinners.

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan(c), Mushfiqur Rahim(w), Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain, Afif Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Najeeb Tarakai, Najibullah Zadran, Asghar Afghan, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan(c), Karim Janat, Fareed Malik, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Build Up:

Both Bangladesh and Afghanistan have overcome Zimbabwe. And now the two teams will clash in what should be a keenly-contested T20I in Dhaka.

In the first game, Afif Hossain's stunning 26-ball 52 bailed Bangladesh out of troubled waters as they posted a nervy three-wicket win versus Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, it rained sixes from the bats of Zadran and Nabi as Afghanistan downed the same side in the second match.

Who will come out on top in this crucial encounter? All the action in a few minutes time.