Head coach Phil Simmons praised Nurul Hasan Sohan for his match-winning composure as Bangladesh sealed the T20 series against Afghanistan with one match remaining. The Tigers edged a tense second game by two wickets on 3 October, taking an unassailable 2–0 lead and setting up the chance for a clean sweep on 5 October.
Sohan, who was named Game Changer of the Match for the second consecutive game, guided Bangladesh home with an unbeaten 31 off 21 balls. His calm presence proved vital after Bangladesh suffered a late collapse, losing six wickets for nine runs following a 67-run stand between Jaker Ali Anik and Shamim Hossain Patwary.
Batting first, Afghanistan posted 147, but despite the middle-order wobble, Sohan and Shoriful Islam combined to see Bangladesh over the line in a thrilling finish.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Simmons lauded Sohan’s maturity under pressure:
“He played a brilliant innings today. When Jaker and Shamim got out, he took responsibility and finished the game for us. That’s exactly what I want from the batters to take charge and win matches when the opportunity comes.”
The former West Indies coach also reflected on the improved overall performance from his side:
“It was a fantastic match, much better than yesterday’s. The wicket stayed good for batting, which made it a proper contest.”
Simmons highlighted the continued progress in Bangladesh’s bowling unit, which has performed consistently across the past few weeks.
“Our bowling has been improving. No matter the combination, we can rely on our bowlers. They’ve been strong over the last five or six weeks. Even though Afghanistan started well today, we bowled tightly through the middle and at the end. The spinners did well too. Yesterday the openers showed their ability, and today the lower middle order stepped up. We want to play exciting, aggressive cricket, that’s our goal.”
He also pointed out improvements in handling spin:
“We usually play spin well, that’s one of our strengths. Today we executed our plans much better than yesterday.”
Bangladesh’s first two victories in the series have both come in tense finishes. Simmons admitted that while the thrill is exciting, it can also be nerve-racking.
“(Laughs) Winning like this isn’t good for my health either,” he joked. “But these close wins help build confidence for the future. It’s a good experience just not great for anyone’s heart.”
Bangladesh will aim to complete a 3–0 sweep when the final T20 takes place on 5 October in Sharjah.
