Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, 2nd T20I at Sylhet, BAN v AFG, Jul 16 2023 - Match Result

10.54pm So as Shakib Al Hasan picks up the trophy, it is time for us to say goodbye from Sylhet. A terrific tour comes to an end. Thank you all for your company and enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

10.44pm Time for the presentation.

Player of the Match and Player of the Series is SHAKIB Al Hasan. He's also the winning captain of course. He says, "(Nerves at the back end?) No don't think it was nerves. We lost couple of wickets but given the start we had, we were always ahead. Given the ground conditions, knew their spinners will have it tough. (Toss) Helped. (Batting position, his?) Today I and coaching staff wanted younger guys to get more time and get the job done. Then I had to come in. (Confidence of T20 series win) The boys playing the ODIs are also part of this team. They will take this confidence into Asia Cup and World Cup."

Losing captain RASHID Khan: "Weather is not an excuse for a team. T20 should be decided on skills and we were not good enough there, especially in batting. If we took a bit more time to score more, we could've. (Why not getting good starts) You need to know your role and your capacity in how you start the innings. Also have to control emotions. That's what we are lacking. Main target is to fix those for next world cup. (Bowling effort) Just what I wanted from the boys. Good effort. We got a few wickets to put pressure but less score on the board didn't let us get on the right side. Yes, I am leaving in an hour or two for MLC."

To recap this match. Taskin's two wickets early, followed by a squeeze from Nasum, Hasan and Shakib ensured Afghanistan were slow in their first 7.2 overs. After the rain break, batting became easier and Afghanistan capitalised, but 116 in 17 overs never quite felt like enough.

Then when Litton Das gave Bangladesh a blazing start, the end seemed rather quick, but Mujeeb, Omarzai and Rashid were tidy, ensuring the RRR spiked up. Shakib and Shamim, though, made sure the home fans went home with a smile eventually - an apt reward for them. Remember, they braved the rain and the weather forecast to turn up and then hang around in support of their team. A great day for Bangladesh cricket - with the men now winning, hours after the women beat India.

10.36pm A terrific tour to be fair. Bangladesh won the Test, Afghanistan clawed back with a 2-1 ODI series win in a World Cup year, and then Bangladesh clinched the T20I series 2-0. Even though the T20Is were a sweep, the games were much closer.

10.35pm The hosts seal the T20I series 2-0, making it a 7-1 record at home in T20Is this year. Since 2021, they've beaten Australia, New Zealand, England and Afghanistan at home.

Rashid has gone to the debutant Wafadar for the final over. No Karim Janat tonight. Big ask. But it has happened before. He'll need a couple of dots.

Four off six.

Arnob: "Last game we saw a Hat-trick when 6 needed in the last. Don't take anything for granted. You shouldn't leave the edge of your seat."

Anish: "That six from Tohid might have shifted the game almost completely." -- momentum shifter

Farooqi.

Rafail Ahamed S: "This one is not going down the wire! -- This over is very crucial.

The DJ is playing "Baby, calm down..." the hit song. Wonder if that's for the crowd, the Bangladesh batters, or the Afghan bowlers!

Where is Karim Janat, the hat-trick hero of the first T20I?

21 off 20.

"Shakib, Shakib" the crowd goes...