DHAKA, July 14, 2023 (BSS) - Mohammad Nabi hit a 40 ball-54 not out as Afghanistan recovered from an early collapse to post 154-7 in the two-match series opening game against Bangladesh at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today.
 
Azmatullah Omarzai complemented him with 18 ball-33, which studded with four towering sixes. He and Nabi combined for a 56-run partnership for the sixth wicket after Bangladesh made Afghanistan five down for 87 runs in the 14th over.
 
Thanks to Nabi and Omarzai's assault, Afghanistan scored 60 runs in the last five overs to give the scoreboard some respectability. Nabi smote six fours and one six in his knock.
 
Bangladesh struck in just the third over after sending Afghans to bat first with left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed claiming the wicket of Hazratullah Zazai for 8.
 
Taskin Ahmed gave Bangladesh big relief, taking the wicket of danger man Rahmanullah Gurbaz who pulled it straight to Mehidy Hasan Miraz at deep backward for 16.
 
Left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam joined the party as he got the better of Ibrahim Zadran for 8, leaving Afghanistan at 32-3.
 
But Nabi resisted. However, captain Shakib Al Hasan, who was the best bowler for the side with 2-27, got into act with the wicket of Karim Janat (3) before Mehidy Hasan Miraz removed Najibullah Zadran who looked set to build a good partnership with Nabi.
 
Miraz had Najibullah stumped for 23, ending the 35-run partnership. But Nabi again found support in Omarzai to frustrate Bangladesh.
 
Shakib broke this partnership, taking out Omarzai, but Afghanistan by then paved the way to go past the 150-run mark.
 
Nabi pulled Mustafizur Rahman for a boundary through deep mid-wicket to raise his fifth half-century off 39 balls and also brought up the team's 150 runs.