Tigers battered by the Afghans, again!

If there was any doubt before the game, now there's none. Bangladesh had won against Afghanistan only once in T20Is, and the number remained the same as they conceded defeat again. 

To put it simply, Afghanistan outclassed Bangladesh again in a format which the former is most adept. And they showed it in every sector of the game that Afghanistan were way better than Bangladesh in the shortest format of the game. 

Batting first, Afghanistan were 40-4 at one stage but they still managed to score 164-4. And while chasing, they reduced Bangladesh to 32-4 in no time to push the hosts out of the game. Bangladesh were never in the game after the 15th over of the Afghan innings and fairly, they were beaten by 25 runs. 

Winning the toss, the Afghan captain Rashid Khan decided to bat first. No changes were made to either of the sides as both were coming from a win against Zimbabwe. 

Afghanistan were pushed back on the very first delivery as Saifuddin sent Rahmanullah's off stump for a walk with an outstanding delivery. The ball pitched on the seam and moved away to hit the off stump, sending the young Afghan back to the pavilion for a golden duck. 

The other Afghan opener, Hazratullah Zazai, was sent back by Shakib the very next over as the batsman holed out to Liton Das at deep mid-wicket to reduce Afghanistan to 10-2. 

Najeeb Tarkai tried to break the shackles with a six off Saifuddin in his second over but another lofted shot proved one too many as he was caught at the boundary. It was Saifuddin's second and Afghanistan were reduced to 19-3. 

Shakib struck again in the last over of the powerplay to send back Najibullah Zadran as the Afghan batsman skied the ball in an attempt to clear the boundary. Soumya Sarkar completed a good catch to reduce Afghanistan to 40-4 and ensure Shakib's second. 

Asghar Afghan and Mohammad Nabi put up a good stand between them to steady the Afghan ship. Afghan was caught at the boundary of Taijul, but replays showed that the bowler overstepped and the batsman stayed. 

The 79-run partnership was finally broken by Saifuddin as Afghan holed out to Sabbir at long-on on 39. Gulbadin Naib did not last long as his stumps were rattled by Saifuddin, who picked up his fourth wicket of the match. 

Mohammad Nabi unleashed himself on Soumya to score 22 runs off the over, picking up his fifty in the process. Mustafiz only conceded three runs in the last over, but the damage was done. 

Nabi's storm at the end meant Afghanistan ended on 164-6, as Nabi stayed unbeaten on 84 off 54 deliveries. The Afghans scored 55 runs in the last five overs, well lower than the 88 they scored against Zimbabwe. 

Saifuddin was the pick of the bowlers as he ended up with the figures of four for 33. Shakib picked up the other two wickets conceding 18 runs.  

Chasing the target, Bangladesh pulled a rabbit out of their hat early to send Mushfiqur Rahim to open with Liton Das, possibly not to expose the left-handed Soumya Sarkar in front of off-spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman. But the trick did not work as Liton Das, who is considered a great player of spin, skewed the ball in the air to get out for naught on the second ball of the innings. 

Bangladesh's surprise opener Mushfiqur also did not last at the crease for long too as he was cleaned up attempting a scoop off Fareed Malik. 

Shakib showed some prowess but was eventually caught by counterpart Rashid Khan off Mujeeb on 15 as Bangladesh sunk into deeper waters. 

Bangladesh's fear of Mujjeb getting the better of Soumya turned true as the left-hander was trapped LBW on the very first delivery he faced off Mujeeb. 

A moment of fear happened in the eighth over as Sabbir Rahman was hit below the chin as he attempted to scoop Karim Janat. To everyone's relief, Sabbir was back on his feet very soon after a bit of treatment. 

Coming into the attack, the Afghan skipper struck immediately to trap Sabbir LBW. But Sabbir reviewed and the replays showed that the ball kissed the glove on the way which led to the decision being overturned. 

Mahmudullah and Sabbir's partnership steadied the ship but the asking rate was climbing with every ball. Their stand of 58 runs was broken by Gulbadin Naib as Mahmudullah's mistimed shot was caught at midwicket. Sabbir soon followed as he was caught at the boundary off Mujeeb, who claimed his fourth wicket of the match. 

Bangladesh's hero of the last match Afif Hossain, alongside Mosaddek Hossain, tried to outrun the fast-growing run rate but could not as it went far beyond their reach. 

Afif was given LBW off Rashid Khan in the 17th over, but the youngster's decision to review turned out to be right as Ultraedge showed a spike when the ball was passing the glove. In the same over, there was a review against Afif which was dismissed and also, the youngster survived a run-out scare in that over. 

But his luck ran out in the next over as his shot was grabbed brilliantly at the long-off boundary by Mohammad Nabi. The youngster was dismissed for 16 as Gulbadin claimed his second wicket of the match. 

Saifuddin, in an attempt to clear the boundary, only managed to loft it high up into the night sky as Rashid Khan took the catch off his own bowling. Mosaddek also perished as Rashid Khan went through the defenses to rattle Mosaddek's stumps. 

Mustafizur Rahman's late flurry was way too late, as he smashed Fareed Malik for 14 in the last over before getting caught at deep cover for 15. Bangladesh were all out for 139 and their defeat was their fourth defeat in the shortest format of the game to the Afghans, winning only one, that too back ion 2014. 

Mahmudullah top-scored for Bangladesh with 44 whereas Sabbir scored 24. Five batsmen failed to reach the double-figure mark, and two of them went back for zero. 

Mujeeb was the pick of the Afghan pack as he picked up four wickets. Gulbadin, Fareed, and Rashid all picked up a couple of wickets each to ensure their victory.

Mohammad Nabi was adjudged Man of the Match for his 84 runs with the bat.