Sports live: Bangladesh beat Afghanistan by four wickets in the last league Twenty20 International Cricket match of the OBHAI Tri-nation T20 series at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Saturday. Bangladesh will take on Afghanistan in the final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on September 24.

Chasing Afghanistan's total of 138 for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs, Bangladesh reached the winning target making 139 for the loss of six wickets when they had six balls to spare.

Bangladesh had an unhappy start as they lost opener Liton Das for just four runs and Najmul Hossain Shanto the other opener for just five runs. When Shano returned to the pavilion Bangladesh's score was 12 for the loss of two wickets.

Then Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim mended the innings contributing together 58 runs for the third wicket partnership before Mushfiqur Rahim was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Shafiqullah of Karim Janat when the hosts' total was 70 for the loss of three wickets. Shakib Al Hasan remained unbeaten with 70. His 45-ball innings was studded with eight fours and a sixer.

Shakib Al Hasan was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding performance.

Mushfiqur hit 26 from 25 balls. After dismissal of Mushfiqur, Mahmudullah came at the crease but he (6) was trapped leg before wicket by Rashid Khan when Bangladesh's score was 93 for the loss of four wickets. Fourth-down Sabbir Rahman (1) was caught behind by wicketkeeper Rahmatullah Gurbaz off Naveen-ul-Haq when the home side's total was 96 for the loss of five wickets.

Fifth-down Afif Hossain (0) was cleanly bowled out by Rashid Khan when Bangladesh's score was 104 for the loss of six wickets.

Shakib Al Hasan and Mosaddek Hossain guided their team to reach the victory target contributing together 35 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket partnership.

Mosaddek Hossain remained unbeaten with 19.

Naveen-ul-Haq and Rashid Khan bagged a couple of wickets each for 20 and 27 runs respectively. Earlier, Afghanistan made a good start as openers Rahmatullah Gurbaz and Hazratullah Zazai put on together 75 runs in the opening stand before Zazai was caught at the short fine leg by Mustafizur Rahman off Afif Hossain. Zazai hit a polished 47. His 35-ball innings saw six fours and two sixes.

Rahmatullah Gurbaz made 29 from 27 balls featuring two fours and two sixes.

After dismissal of Gurbaz, Afghan batsmen failed to make any notable partnership. Bangladesh bowlers dominated over the Afghan batsmen. Shafiqullah remained unbeaten with 23. His 17-ball innings had two fours and two sixes.

Afif Hossain bagged a pair of wickets at the cost of nine runs.

Mohammad Saifuddin, Shafiul Islam, Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman took one wicket each for 23, 24, 24 and 31 runs respectively.

Dhaka 21 September (campuslive24.com)//az