Nabi, Omarzai power Afghanistan to 154

Afghanistan all-rounders Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai staged a remarkable comeback for their side as they powered the visitors to 154 for seven after a dismal start in the first of the two-match T20I series at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Nabi smashed his fifth T20I fifty as scored an unbeaten 40-ball 54 where he put away six fours and a solitary six, while Omarzai smashed four sixes for his 16-ball 33 as the duo stitched a 56-run stand sixth wicket before the latter fell to Shakib Al Hasan in the 19th over.

Afghanistan were in troubled waters when they lost five wickets for 87 on the board in the 14th over but Nabi and Omarzai made sure the visitors had enough runs for their bowlers to defend.

Afghanistan were put into bat first by Bangladesh skipper Shakib, who named three pacers and as many pacers in the side.
The Tigers got off to a solid start having removed three top-order batters for 40 runs inside the powerplay, including the danger man, opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

Ibrahim Zadran and Najibullah Zadran came after that but were able to make very little as they were dismissed for single digits.

All five bowlers used by Shakib picked up one wicket each, while the skipper himself scalped two.

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