Sports

Bowlers, Saif combine to hand Bangladesh 3-0 win against Afghanistan

Published

7 months ago

2025/10/6

Priyan

File photo: Saif Hassan smashed seven sixes in his knock of 64* [Cricinfo]

Bangladesh clean swept Afghanistan 3-0 in the T20I series in Sharjah, as they successfully followed a chasing template in all three matches. Saif Hassan continued his good form with an unbeaten 38-ball 64 that powered Bangladesh to a six-wicket win in the third T20I.

Afghanistan once again fell well short after being sent in to bat first. They had an ordinary powerplay, followed by an even worse middle overs. Only a late burst from Darwish Rasooli and No. 10 Mujeeb Ur Rahman got them to 143 for 9 in 20 overs.

Tanzid Hasan got Bangladesh off to a quick start before Saif took over with his big-hitting. He struck seven sixes and two fours, including several swings, flicks and sweeps on his way to his fourth T20I fifty. Bangladesh did lose a couple of wickets in the middle, but Nurul Hasan struck the winning runs to wrap up victory with two overs to spare.

Azmatullah Omarzai provided Afghanistan with the early wicket of Parvez Hossain, when the left-hand batter skied him in the fifth over. Parvez looked good in the early exchanges, striking a four and a six in his innings of 14. But when he tried to loft Omarzai, he was caught at mid-off.

Saif started with a six later in the same over, before Tanzid crashed two fours in a row off Rashid Khan in the seventh over.

Tanzid then belted Mujeeb for a six over long-on, before Rasooli dropped a sitter off Tanzid’s top edge in the 11th over. But thankfully, for Abdollah Ahmadzai, who was the bowler, Tanzid top-edged his next delivery, a slower one, to mid-off. But Tanzid’s run-a-ball 33, and his 55-run second-wicket stand with Saif, had given Bangladesh a good base in their 144-run chase.

Like earlier in the series, Bangladesh, though, fell into the pattern of getting into panic mode after a good partnership. Captain Jaker Ali survived two lbw appeals in three balls against Rashid. Both times the ball pitched outside leg stump. Saif then laid into Ahmadzai with a 92-metre six in a 22-run over that should have made life comfortable for Bangladesh.

Instead, with just 35 runs to get in 38 balls, Jaker fell to Mujeeb. Jaker took a second review in his 11-ball stay, but this time it didn’t save him. Mujeeb then had Shamim Hossain bowled for a golden duck to make things a little interesting.

Saif, meanwhile, cleverly played out Rashid’s last over, the 15th of the innings, with forward-defensive shots, even as it meant giving away a maiden. It didn’t put much pressure on Bangladesh, however, although he made up for it by striking debutant Bashir Ahmad for two sixes in the 16th over. Saif reached his fourth fifty with the second six in the over, a slog sweep that went for 95 meters.

Nurul, at the other end, remained not out on 10, including hitting the match-winning runs, a six off Ahmadzai, who had an evening to forget in Sharjah. Nurul thus ended unbeaten in all three matches of the T20I series.

Bangladesh’s bowlers continued their dominance in the powerplay in this T20I series. Afghanistan were 39 for 3 after six overs, with Shoriful Islam once again giving Bangladesh an early breakthrough. He removed Ibrahim Zadran in the third over, before Shamim took a screamer at cover to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz off Nasum Ahmed in the fourth over.

Wafiullah Tarakhil’s wicket in the sixth over rounded off Afghanistan’s struggle in the powerplay. Sediqullah Atal looked good during his 23-ball 28, before Mohammed Saifuddin had him caught at deep point in the 11th over. Omarzai then skied Rishad Hossain for 3, before Mohammad Nabi and Rashid fell cheaply, and in successive overs.

Bangladesh dominated with the ball till the 15th over, and with Afghanistan at 106 for 8, they might have expected to take the last two wickets rather quickly.

New batter Bashir then survived a caught-behind chance, with the ball having dropped an inch in front of wicketkeeper Jaker. Mujeeb struck one more four to take Afghanistan past 140, thus giving their bowlers something to aim at.

Brief scores:
Bangladesh 144 for 4 in 18 overs (Parvez Hossain Emon 14, Saif Hasan 64*, Tanzid Hasan 33, Jaker Ali 10, Nurul Hasan 10*; Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2-26, Azmatullah Omarzai 1-12, Abdollah Ahmadzai 1-50) beat Afghanistan 143 for 9 in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 12, Sarwish Rasooli 32, Sadiqullah Atal 28, Wafiullah Trakil 11, Rashid Khan 12, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 23*; Shoriful Islam 1-33, Nasun Ahmed 2-24, Tanzim Hasan Sakib 24, Mohammed Saifuddin 3-15, Rishad Hossain 1-39) by six wickets

[Cricinfo]

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Sports

Air Force honours medal winners of Asian Beach Games

Published

4 mins ago

2026/05/8

Thilina Walpola

The SLAF recognized its outstanding athletes who brought international acclaim by securing medals at the Asian Beach Games 2026 in China. A special felicitation ceremony was held on Wednesday at the Air Force Headquarters under the patronage of the Commander of the Air Force and President Air Force Sports Council, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe.

‎In appreciation of their exceptional performances in wrestling, kabaddi and long jump, the athletes were promoted to the rank of Corporal. In addition to these promotions, they were awarded special cash prizes in recognition of their dedication and achievements.

‎The ceremony also highlighted the invaluable contribution of the coaches, whose guidance and commitment played a pivotal role in these successes. The Commander of the Air Force presented special cash awards to the coaches in acknowledgment of their efforts.

‎Nipuni Wasana Dharmadasa (Gold in wrestling), Hansika Bandara (Silver in

‎kabaddi), Shanika Bandara (Silver in Kabaddi), Chaminda Samarakoon (Bronze in Kabaddi) and Shashikala Lankathilaka (Bronze in long jump) were the Air Force athletes felicitated.

Sports

Tokyo Cement kicks off ‘Ivuru Rakina Pawuru’ with New Zealand Rugby

Published

4 mins ago

2026/05/8

Thilina Walpola

Tokyo Cement Group, in collaboration with the Mahaweli Authority, launched the 2026 tree-planting season of the Ivuru Rakina Pawuru project near the Polgolla Dam in Kandy, joined by members of the touring New Zealand Under-85kg rugby team. The event reflected the sustained commitment to restoring and safeguarding the banks of the Mahaweli River, gaining international recognition for its far-reaching value creation.

The event brought together officials representing the Mahaweli Authority, the Central Environment Authority, ranking officers of the Sri Lanka Rugby Federation, students from Kandy Model School in Polgolla, and residents of the surrounding community, with members of the New Zealand Under-85kg rugby team, to plant 100 Kumbuk saplings along the riverbank, highlighting a shared dedication to environmental stewardship.

Tokyo Cement Group’s Ivuru Rakina Pawuru programme partners the Ministry of Environment and Mahaweli Authority since 2017, in their concerted efforts to reforest the Mahaweli riverbanks with native species such as Kumbuk and Mee, supporting the sustainable management of vital water catchment areas.

Sports

Double wicket cricket tournament promises fun-filled affair

Published

4 mins ago

2026/05/8

Thilina Walpola

Dushan Soza and Basil Perera of Lanka Heritage Cricket Club receive the sponsorship cheque from Lasantha Amarasinghe of Chance Sports

The Double Wicket Cricket Tournament, set to be worked off for the third time later this month, is gathering plenty of momentum with 24 teams set to be in the fray this year, organisers Lanka Heritage Cricket Club announced during a media briefing in Colombo on Wednesday.

The organisers have attracted several sponsors for the much-anticipated event, which will feature cricketers over the age of 45 and by next year they hope to take the tournament global by inviting teams from overseas.

The tournament will be worked off on May 16 and 17 at Moors Cricket Ground with former Sri Lanka batsman Roy Dias gracing the opening ceremony as Chief Guest. Former Sri Lanka captain Anura Tennekoon will attend the final day as Chief Guest and give away the prizes.

The think tank of Lanka Heritage Cricket Club, comprising former St. Joseph’s cricketers Dushan Soza and Susilough de Silva Wijeyratne along with former St. Benedict’s cricketer Basil Perera, have been regulars at the Tamil Union bar, often huddled in a corner with Sir Donald Bradman’s portrait keeping them company. It has now emerged these were not mere drinking sessions, but brainstorming meetings where the pieces of the Double Wicket Tournament were carefully put together.

The tournament promises plenty of fun. Cricket itself is a game of glorious uncertainties and the double wicket format adds another layer of intrigue. Nine independent fielders will patrol the field while the two batters can continue batting despite being dismissed. However, every dismissal carries a penalty of minus five runs. Each team comprises four players, but only two can take the field during a match.

A side may appear to have sealed victory with two balls to spare, only to end up losing the contest. In double wicket cricket, teams must bat out their full quota of two overs and even if the winning runs are scored midway through the over, another dismissal could drag the total into the red. In short, it is never over until the fat lady sings.

A & E has stepped forward as the principal sponsor for the third edition of the tournament alongside Future Life Holdings, LOLC Finance, Phoenix, Nithyakalyani Jewellery, PEO Sports, Janashakthi Group and Chance Sports.

by Rex Clementine