AFG beat BAN by 6 wickets | Bangladesh vs Afghanistan, Highlights And Cricket Score 2nd T20I Match - Commentary

Afghanistan will be the happier side going into the break, despite the late cameo from Hider. Barring Mujeeb (who was still highly economical), everyone chipped in with the wickets. But, Rashid Khan did the real damage when it was time for his spell. He hunted down 4 in total, out of which 3 came in a single over. Asghar Stanikzai said at the toss that he wanted to restrict Bangladesh under 140 and they've done just that. They will back themselves to chase this down. Join us in a short while for the run chase.

Given how the innings was panning out, you'd say this is a decent total for Bangladesh, all said and done. Abu Hider has provided them a late impetus to get past the 130-mark. The Tigers' batting order underwhelmed once more. Got starts, but barring Tamim Iqbal, nobody really did anything of note. He and Rahim did manage a solid stand, but all fell apart too soon due to some rash shots from the batsmen. Hider though, came in towards the end and scored 21 off 14 to at least give his side a fighting chance.

Shapoor Zadran to Abu Hider. Good end from Zadran. Bangs it in short and on middle and off, Hider swings to pull but can't connect. BANGLADESH FINISH ON 134/8!

Shapoor Zadran to Abu Hider. SIX! Now the number has equaled to Rashid's wickets. Superb. Slower one again, full and in the slot, Hider picks it up this time and smokes this over long on for a biggie. Got low and put it away.

Shapoor Zadran to Abu Hider. Cleverly takes the pace off it and Hider is deceived by it. Swings across the line a bit too early as he manages an inside edge onto his pads.

Shapoor Zadran to Abu Hider. Fuller in the off stump channel, Hider slices it and clears covers. Nabi out in the deep cuts it off and keeps the batsmen to two.

Shapoor Zadran to Nazmul Islam. Angling in on middle and leg, Islam backs away and is left with no room to work with. Gets an inside edge onto his pads and a single is taken as the ball rolls away towards covers.

Shapoor Zadran to Nazmul Islam. FOUR! Starts the over with a boundary! Shortish in length outside off, some room on offer so Islam throws his bat at it. Gets a thick edge which runs across the third man boundary.

Shapoor Zadran to bowl the final over of the innings.

Karim Janat to Abu Hider. Dot ball, but 13 off the over. Shuffles across to the length ball outside off and misses the ball as he tries to flick it on the leg side. Wants the run but Shahzad scares them just enough so as to prevent it.

Karim Janat to Abu Hider. FOUR! Important runs these for Bangladesh, however streaky. Fired full, Hider brings his bat down and gets an inside edge past the keeper, to the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Karim Janat to Abu Hider. SIX! Third maximum of the innings, though still one less than Rashid's number of wickets. Just behind a length, Hider swings across the line and connects sweetly. Clears the mid-wicket rope, just about, but he does. A maximum results.

Karim Janat to Abu Hider. Full toss on leg, Hider misses the flick shot. It goes off his pads on the leg side and two leg byes are taken.

Karim Janat to Abu Hider. Fuller in length, on middle and off, driven back down the track.

Karim Janat to Nazmul Islam. Direct hit and he was gone! Islam hits this towards backward point and takes off. Is sent back by his partner late and there is a shy at the striker's end. Just misses, as Islam would have been gone had he scored that. The batsmen take a run for the overthrow as there isn't anyone backing up.

Karim Janat to bowl once more.

Rashid Khan to Abu Hider. No 5-fer for Rashid, but once again, he's put in a phenomenal performance for his side. Full on the stumps, it's hit straight back to him. He ends with exceptional figures of 4-0-12-4.

Nazmul Islam is the next batsman in.

Rashid Khan to Soumya Sarkar. OUT! 4-fer for Rashid Khan! On his way to a potential 5-fer. Is there no stopping this boy? Absolutely sensational bowling from the youngster. Full on the stumps, too full for the sweep shot but Sarkar still goes through with it. Hits it straight to Stanikzai at deep mid-wicket who gobbles it up.

Rashid Khan to Soumya Sarkar. Dangerous shot to play. Could have easily been gone. Coming in sharply on middle and leg, Sarkar looks to run it down to third man after backing away a bit. Just about manages to get bat on it. Would have gone otherwise. Ooofff!

Rashid Khan to Soumya Sarkar. Spinning in this time, Sarkar makes a little room and dabs it in front of backward point. Dot ball.

Rashid Khan to Soumya Sarkar. From around the wicket, it's the googly outside off. Sarkar crouches a bit to run it down to third man but misses it.

Khan is receiving some medical attention after that blow on the last delivery. Doesn't seem too serious though, mostly an impact injury. He will be fine to continue.

Rashid Khan to Abu Hider. A bit too full on off, smacked right back down the track. Rashid tries to stop it but it goes off his left ankle towards long off. A single collected.

Shapoor Zadran to Soumya Sarkar. Sarkar backs away and hence Shapoor follows him. Cramps him for room and Sarkar can't do much about it. Gets an inside edge on his attempted cut shot onto his pads and the ball rolls away to the off side. No run taken.

Shapoor Zadran to Abu Hider. Switches to around the wicket, angles it in on middle and leg, full in length. Hider misses his flick shot and takes a leg bye as the ball rolls off the pads in front of square leg.

Shapoor Zadran to Soumya Sarkar. Too straight in line again from the pacer, flicked to deep square leg for a single.

Shapoor Zadran to Soumya Sarkar. Muted appeal for a leg before, turned down. Zadran fires it full on leg and it keeps coming in, Sarkar tries flicking it away but is rapped low on the pads. Missing the leg stump, that. Clearly.

Shapoor Zadran to Abu Hider. Played to the point region by the batsman. They pick up a single.

Shapoor Zadran to Soumya Sarkar. Short into the body, Sarkar with a little swivel pulls it down towards fine leg for a single.

Shapoor Zadran back on to bowl.

Rashid Khan to Abu Hider. Almost.... almost! That was so close. Oh, dear. Phew. Rashid bowls it on the stumps, the googly again, takes the higher part of Hider's bat and lobs just away from the short leg fielder. An excellent over from the leggie comes to an end. 3 wickets and 2 runs off it.

Abu Hider to face the hat-trick ball.

Rashid Khan to Mosaddek Hossain. OUT! GOT 'EM! Mosaddek came, Mosaddek saw and Mosaddek is gone - all in just one delivery. This is unbelievable bowling from the leg spinner. Rashid Khan is on a hat-trick now. Serves the googly around off, it spins back in and Mosaddek hasn't picked it up at all. Is caught flush in front of the stumps and the umpire doesn't waste any time in raising his finger.

Mosaddek Hossain comes out to bat.

Rashid Khan to Tamim Iqbal. OUT! The leggie with his second of the over. Bangladesh needed Tamim Iqbal, their set batsman, to stay through the death overs, but he's gone. Poor shot to play to be honest, especially against a quality bowler like Rashid. Too full, too fast and not the occasion to bring the broom out. Tamim gets low to sweep and the ball goes right through to disturb the furniture. He falls 7 short of a fifty.

Rashid Khan to Tamim Iqbal. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.

Rashid Khan to Soumya Sarkar. Fraction straight on middle and leg, turned away to the leg side for a single.

Rashid Khan to Soumya Sarkar. Wide! Strange. The Afghans went up in an appeal for a caught behind but the umpire just raised his arms. Rashid darted this down the leg side, Sarkar tried to flick but apparently missed.

Soumya Sarkar to bat next.

Rashid Khan to Shakib Al Hasan. OUT! It's like a habit for him now, picks up wickets at will it seems. Rashid Khan dismisses the Bangladesh skipper. Darts it full, Shakib attempts to clear long on but doesn't exactly get underneath it. Hits it straight down the throat of Najibullah Zadran who makes no mistake in taking it. Superb. Afghanistan on top for now.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tamim Iqbal. Gets low early and tries to play the paddle sweep, only gloves it to short fine leg. The 17-year old spinner has been really impressive, ends with frugal figures of 4-0-15-0.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Shakib Al Hasan. Drifting in on the pads, Shakib works it 'round the corner and gets to the other end.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Shakib Al Hasan. Sliding in on middle and off, Shakib picks it off his pads and works it away on the leg side.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tamim Iqbal. Afghanistan won't mind Bangladesh dealing in singles. Flicked away in front of square leg.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tamim Iqbal. Iqbal gives the charge and seeing this, Mujeeb smartly shortens the length. Fortunate for the batsman that he got some bat on it, otherwise a stumping was on the cards.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tamim Iqbal. From around the wicket, Mujeeb keeps it close to off, Tamim blocks it back down the track.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to bowl again.

Rashid Khan to Tamim Iqbal. The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single.

Rashid Khan to Tamim Iqbal. Oh, my word! That was close to say the least. Rashid comes from around the wicket and puts a lot of pace on this one. It comes in with the angle and Iqbal is cramped for room. Backs away to cut but gets an inside edge which falls beside him and goes over the stumps.

Rashid Khan to Shakib Al Hasan. Never in control of that. The googly outside off, slightly slower in length, Shakib looks to loft it over covers but ends up slicing it just over the head of the backward point fielder. Single collected.

Rashid Khan to Tamim Iqbal. Through towards deep mid-wicket again, just to the left of the fielder this time. Another single.

Rashid Khan to Shakib Al Hasan. Quite full once again, on middle and leg, wristed away through the mid-wicket area for a run.

Rashid Khan to Tamim Iqbal. Flicked through the mid-wicket region for a single.

Rashid Khan called back on to bowl.

Mohammad Nabi to Shakib Al Hasan. Spinning away, just enough, Shakib holds his bat out to drive and luckily, doesn't edge it. He'll feel lucky, that wasn't too far away. What a spell from Nabi. He has finished with figures of 4-0-19-2.

Mohammad Nabi to Shakib Al Hasan. Stays right behind the line and keeps it out with a straight blade.

Mohammad Nabi to Tamim Iqbal. Backs away a touch, punches the short ball and finds the gap through the covers for one run.

Mohammad Nabi to Tamim Iqbal. Driven firmly this time, to the cover fielder once more.

Mohammad Nabi to Tamim Iqbal. Touch fullish in length and outside off, pushes straight to the man at cover.

Mohammad Nabi to Tamim Iqbal. From around the wicket, it's fuller around off, Tamim is forward in defense.

Mohammad Nabi back into the attack.

Shakib Al Hasan walks into the middle next.

Karim Janat to Mahmudullah. OUT! Bowled 'em! Tried to be aggressive again and has paid the price as a result. Smart work from Janat here, he takes the pace off this one as he bowls it on a length around off. It's the off cutter which comes back in and slides right through the gap as Mahmudullah charges out and swings across the line. Crashes into the stumps and that's another wicket down for the away side.

Karim Janat to Mahmudullah. FOUR! Streaky runs for Mahmudullah, but he and Bangladesh won't mind. Yorker outside the line of off stump, Mahmudullah gets low, puts bat on it and off the edge gets it past the keeper to the third man fence.

Karim Janat to Tamim Iqbal. Makes use of the feet, steps out of the crease and lofts it towards long off. One more to the total.

Karim Janat to Mahmudullah. Swings across the line and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Karim Janat to Tamim Iqbal. Short in length, outside off, punched off the back foot to deep cover for a run.

Karim Janat to Mahmudullah. Fuller in length, around the off stump, Mahmudullah walks across and flicks it behind square leg for one.

Karim Janat is back on.

Rashid Khan to Tamim Iqbal. Tosses it up there, outside off, drilled straight to the man at extra cover.

Rashid Khan to Mahmudullah. Turns it away with the wrists on the leg side and changes ends.

Rashid Khan to Mahmudullah. Beaten! Gem from Rashid. Lands it on off, drags the length back a bit and it rips off the deck. Spins away and beats the outside edge of Mahmudullah's bat.

Rashid Khan to Tamim Iqbal. Short, spinning away and around off, Tamim hangs back and whips it down to long on. One more to the total.

Rashid Khan to Mahmudullah. Slightly quicker through the air, full just outside off, Mahmudullah comes forward and pushes it in front of cover-point for a run.

Rashid Khan to Tamim Iqbal. Too full and on the stumps, flicked neatly through to deep mid-wicket for a single.

The young sensation, Rashid Khan, to turn his arm over now.

Mohammad Nabi to Mahmudullah. SIX! Take that for confidence! Tossed up outside off, Mahmudullah facing his first ball needs no sighters. He uses his feet and smokes it over deep mid-wicket for a massive biggie.

No signs of Shakib Al Hasan yet. Mahmudullah is the man walking out.

Mohammad Nabi to Mushfiqur Rahim. OUT! A much-needed wicket for Afghanistan. The partnership was building up, 45 to be precise and Nabi has come to the fore, second wicket for him. He watches Rahim closely as the wicket-keeper batsman comes a touch down the track. As a result, he fires it outside off. The batsman is caught in a tangle as he tries to squeeze it away but gets foxed completely. Shahzad is sharp as a hawk and takes the bails off in a flash. The square leg umpire takes it upstairs. Rahim is well short of his crease. Shahzad roars in jubilation.

Brilliant glovework from Shahzad. Seems from the body language from Rahim that he has been stumped but the umpire wants to be sure.

Mohammad Nabi to Tamim Iqbal. Shortish ball, Iqbal mistimes his pull to deep mid-wicket. A run taken.

Mohammad Nabi to Mushfiqur Rahim. Knocked to the long on region for a single.

Mohammad Nabi to Tamim Iqbal. Makes use of his crease and tucks this one to the leg side for a single.

Mohammad Nabi to Mushfiqur Rahim. A short delivery which has been pulled away. One run added to the total.

Karim Janat to Tamim Iqbal. FOUR! Low full toss well outside off, Iqbal throws his bat at it and gets a thick outside edge through to the third man fence. 16 from the over, the kind of assertion that was required.

Karim Janat to Tamim Iqbal. Four Byes! These are bonus runs, the hosts can't afford that. Outside off, Iqbal goes for a drive but misses. Shahzad is late to react. He tries to stop it casually but the ball goes through his legs and runs to the fence behind. The fielding coach won't be happy.

Karim Janat to Mushfiqur Rahim. Poor fielding! Rahim advances down the track to this one and plays it towards mid-wicket. Nabi there makes a mess of it to allow a single.

Karim Janat to Mushfiqur Rahim. SIX! Creativity at its best! Really well executed. Length delivery going down leg, Rahim gets inside the line and paddle scoops it over short fine leg. It is going, going and going and clears the fence with ease.

Karim Janat to Tamim Iqbal. The ball takes the outside edge goes towards the slip region. One run added to the total.

Karim Janat to Tamim Iqbal. Full and well outside off, sliced straight to the fielder at backward point.

Mohammad Nabi to Tamim Iqbal. Iqbal uses his feet once again but doesn't time it well. Ends up chipping it over mid off for a single. He is not looking that assured in the middle.

Mohammad Nabi to Tamim Iqbal. This one held up a bit. Coming in with the arm, Iqbal is early into his clip shot and hence, gets a leading edge which falls down on the pitch.

Mohammad Nabi to Mushfiqur Rahim. Spinning in sharply, cut against the spin to deep backward point. A run taken.

Mohammad Nabi to Tamim Iqbal. Slow through the air on middle, Tamim takes the aerial route and tries to hit it down the ground but the connection is not that sweet. The long on fielder runs to his right and makes a half-stop. Gets help from his partner. Strangely, only a run is taken. A couple was on.

Mohammad Nabi to Mushfiqur Rahim. Shorter in length this time, Rahim hangs back and pulls it away to deep backward square leg for a single.

Mohammad Nabi to Mushfiqur Rahim. Uses his feet to the flatter ball and drills it towards mid on.

Change of ends for Mohammad Nabi.

Karim Janat to Tamim Iqbal. FOUR! Easy pickings! Fullish ball down the leg side, Iqbal uses the pace of the ball and tucks it past the right side of the short fine leg fielder. It is important to stay calm as the batsman did, sometimes you try to hit easy balls too hard.

Karim Janat to Tamim Iqbal. Punched off the back foot by the batsman.

Karim Janat to Mushfiqur Rahim. Very full delivery outside off, inviting Rahim to play an expansive shot. He tries that but ends up slicing it through backward point. A run taken.

Karim Janat to Tamim Iqbal. Length delivery outside off, the southpaw runs it down to third man to rotate strike.

Karim Janat to Mushfiqur Rahim. On a straighter line this time, helped away to the leg side for a single.

Karim Janat to Mushfiqur Rahim. Back of a length ball outside off, Rahim places it behind point. Nice placement and the batsmen take a couple.

Karim Janat is in for his first burst.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tamim Iqbal. FOUR! Hit with authority! A bit short in length, Iqbal lines it up and pulls it through mid-wicket for a rocketing boundary. The boundary in the last ball has spoiled the over a bit, 4 from this one. That ends a good Powerplay for Afghanistan. They have picked up two wickets and also kept the run-flow in check.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Mushfiqur Rahim. Makes use of the depth of the crease and turns it through mid-wicket to rotate strike.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Mushfiqur Rahim. Tossed up outside off, Mushfiqur drives it crisply but a good dive from the fielder at covers denies the batsman a run.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Mushfiqur Rahim. Crouches to a fullish delivery and sweeps it to the leg side but this is straight to the fielder.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Mushfiqur Rahim. FOUR! Shot! Drifting in towards middle, Rahim takes a step forward, kneels and slog sweeps it over wide mid on to find the rope. Picked the length to perfection.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Mushfiqur Rahim. Fullish in length, Rahim with a front foot stride drives it to mid off.

Change of ends for Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

Mohammad Nabi to Mushfiqur Rahim. The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. The batsmen have run through for a single. A wicket and 4 from the over, good stuff.

Mohammad Nabi to Tamim Iqbal. Iqbal plays this one with soft hands and picks up an easy single.

Mohammad Nabi to Mushfiqur Rahim. Floated delivery on off, knocked down to long on and Rahim is off the mark with a run.

The Bangladesh wicket-keeper, Mushfiqur Rahim comes out to bat.

Mohammad Nabi to Sabbir Rahman. OUT! The feisty Rahman has holed out! He was backing himself to find the gap again but this time he hasn't succeeded. The bowling change has done the trick for Afghanistan. Nabi drags his length back a touch as he sees Sabbir using his feet. The right-hander goes through with an ambitious shot across the line but doesn't get a proper hold of it. Shenwari at deep mid-wicket is safe as a house. What looked like a promising start hasn't been capitalized on.

Mohammad Nabi to Tamim Iqbal. On middle and leg this time, helped with the angle through mid-wicket for a single.

Mohammad Nabi to Tamim Iqbal. Starts off with a generously tossed up ball, Tamim lunges forward in defense.

Mohammad Nabi comes for a bowl.

Shapoor Zadran to Sabbir Rahman. FOUR! 17 from the over, a momentum-changing one. Rahman has got the better of Zadran. Short ball on leg stump, Rahman stands tall and pulls it with aplomb over backward square leg to pick up another boundary.

Shapoor Zadran to Sabbir Rahman. FOUR! Third boundary of the over. Runs are coming at a good pace now. Rahman once again puts his dancing shoes on and drives the fullish ball down the ground. The fielders from mid off and mid on hunt after it but the ball wins the race.

Shapoor Zadran to Sabbir Rahman. FOUR! Swatted away! Audacious shot from Rahman. Good length ball in line of the stumps, Sabbir skips down the track and flat-bats it over wide mid on to find the fence. This is what T20 cricket has done. The batsmen have an array of innovative strokes in their kitty.

Shapoor Zadran to Tamim Iqbal. Well-disguised slower ball on a fullish length outside off, Tamim reads it well and dabs it to the left side of the keeper to get off strike.

Shapoor Zadran to Tamim Iqbal. Another short ball, this time it is much better-directed. Iqbal shuffles a touch and tries to pull it away but only manages to glove it towards short fine leg.

Shapoor Zadran to Tamim Iqbal. FOUR! Flashes and flashes hard! Shortish delivery and a lot of room on offer, Iqbal chances his arms and goes for a horizontal stroke over square on the off side but gets a thick outside edge. It reaches the fence in a jiffy.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tamim Iqbal. This time Iqbal finds the gap through the cover region and picks up a single. Another tidy over from Mujeeb.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tamim Iqbal. On the shorter this time, cut away with the spin to cover-point.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sabbir Rahman. Rahman is nimble on his feet to the flighted ball and milks it down to long on to rotate strike.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sabbir Rahman. Sits deep in the crease and defends this one with a straight bat.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Sabbir Rahman. Spinning in sharply this time, Rahman goes back in order to work it around the corner but misses to get hit on the pads. It was going down leg and so, there was no appeal from the hosts.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tamim Iqbal. Going down with the angle, tucked to the man at 45 for an easy single.

Shapoor Zadran to Sabbir Rahman. Similar delivery, Sabbir doesn't fiddle with it this time. 8 from this one.

Shapoor Zadran to Sabbir Rahman. No feet movement on that occasion! On a driveable length outside off, asking to be hit. Rahman obliges but he plays it without any commitment and hence, gets foxed.

Shapoor Zadran to Tamim Iqbal. Good comeback from the tall pacer. He hits the deck hard and catches Tamim off guard. The ball gets big on him and he fends it off towards the mid-wicket region. A run taken.

Shapoor Zadran to Tamim Iqbal. FOUR! Pristine! First boundary of the innings for the visitors. Zadran once again errs in line and length. It is down the leg side and slightly overpitched as well. Tamim stays well-balanced and flicks it nonchalantly through mid-wicket. The timing is spot on and he gets the desired result.

Shapoor Zadran to Tamim Iqbal. Straying on the pads again, Iqbal clips it with nice timing through backward square leg. The fielder runs to his left and keeps it down to a couple.

Shapoor Zadran to Tamim Iqbal. Wide! Slips this one down the leg side, Iqbal goes for a flick but misses. Shahzad collects it and appeals in order to create pressure on the umpire but the umpire stretches his hands.

Sabbir Rahman walks out to bat. So, a promotion for him in the batting order. Can he make it count?

Shapoor Zadran to Liton Das. OUT! Zadran draws first blood! Good effort ball from the tall pacer and he has reaped the reward. He runs in and hits the deck hard. Das is not in a good position but goes through with a half-hearted pull shot. It hasn't been timed well at all and the ball flies towards the deep square leg region. Rashid Khan stationed there takes it safely. Ideal start for the home side.

Shapoor Zadran to bowl from the other end.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tamim Iqbal. Mujeeb gives this one a bit more air, Iqbal uses his feet and plays it towards wide mid on. Good start for the hosts, only 1 from the first over.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tamim Iqbal. Coming in with the arm, worked with the angle to mid on.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tamim Iqbal. Rash shot! Floated outside off, Tamim advances and tries to smash the leather out of this ball but gets it off the inner half of the bat down the pitch.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Tamim Iqbal. Mujeeb bowls a tossed up ball from around the wicket. Iqbal prods forward and defends it nicely.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Liton Das. Bangladesh are away! Similar delivery, knocked down to mid on for a single.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman to Liton Das. Starts off with an in-drifter around the off stump, Das shuffles across and tucks it to the man at short mid-wicket.

The players are out for their respective National Anthems. After the completion, we are all set to go. Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das will open the batting for Bangladesh. Mujeeb Ur Rahman to start the proceedings with the new ball. A slip in place. Here we go...

Afghanistan skipper, Asghar Stanikzai, says that the wicket is the same and they want to restrict them under 140-150. Mentions that the wicket won't change much and they are happy with bowling first. States they are playing with the same team.

Bangladesh skipper, Shakib Al Hasan, says that they are aware of the wicket now and want to put up a good score which they can defend. States that they did not perform well in all three departments and wants to correct that. Informs that there are two changes. Soumya Sarkar and Abu Haider come in for Abul Hasan and Abu Zayed.

TOSS - Bangladesh win the toss and opt to bat.

PITCH REPORT - Ed Rainsford assessing the surface says that the bowlers need to vary their pace in order to have a good day. Mentions that the track looks like a belter. Reckons that a 180-plus score might be a winning total on this surface.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, are surely missing Mustafizur Rahman. They also missed a trick by not giving Mehidy Hasan an opportunity and he stands a good chance of getting a game today. A much-improved performance is the need of the hour for them and with the series on the line, they don't need any extra motivation. When the going gets tough, the tough get going - they will be banking on that principle. Expect an edge-of-the-seat contest!

Hello and a warm welcome to the coverage of the 2nd T20I between Afghanistan and Bangladesh at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun. The hosts are sky high on confidence after their impressive show in the previous game. It was a day where everything worked according to plan and the execution was pinpoint as well. They will be striving for another complete performance and win their first T20I series against a Test-playing nation other than Zimbabwe.