Taskin returns to clinch Bangladesh win with late four-for
Taskin Ahmed produced some phenomenal death bowling on his return to international cricket, stifling Afghanistan to earn Bangladesh a seven-run win in the first one-day international at Dhaka.
Taskin, as well as team-mate Arafat Sunny, was reported for a suspect action after Bangladesh’s World Twenty20 opener against Netherlands on March 9, but was cleared for selection by the International Cricket Council on Friday.
The seamer marked his comeback with figures of 4-59, all of his scalps coming in his final two overs to halt the tourists short of their target of 265 runs and earn Bangladesh a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
The match did not start positively for Bangladesh as they lost Soumya Sarkar (0) to Dawlat Zadran (4-73) in the first over, but Tamim Iqbal (80) and Imrul Keyes (37) built an 83-run partnership in response.
Tamim was put down on 30 by Hashmatullah Shahidi at backward point and brought up his 34th ODI fifty with a cut through the same area after Mohammad Nabi (2-40) removed Imrul.
Mahmudullah (62) also chipped in with a half-century, but he was dismissed by Nabi after Tamim toe-ended Mirwais Ashraf (1-51) to long-off, the bowler gaining revenge for the earlier drop off his bowling.
Shakib Al Hasan (48) helped force Bangladesh forward before they were skittled for 265 when Dawlat struck with the wicket of Taijul Islam (11) final ball.
After losing opening duo Mohammad Shahzad (31) and Shabir Noori (9) in the first eight overs, Rahmat Shah (71) and Hashmatullah (72) mounted a 144-run stand for the third wicket to put victory in Afghanistan’s sight.
Nabi put on 30 before holing out to long-off with 23 runs required off the final 14 deliveries. Having taken that wicket, Taskin added the scalp of Afghan captain Ashgar Stanikzai (10) in the same over.
Afghanistan needed 13 off the last over, and Ashraf (3) snatched two before being trapped leg before by Taskin.
A maximum off the final ball would have resulted in a draw, but Dawlat (2) looped Taskin to Sabbir Rahman at long-off as Bangladesh held on for the win.
