Mohammad Nabi hit a blazing fifty that powered Afghanistan to 154-7 against Bangladesh in the opener of the two Twenty 2o internationals at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

With Nabi remaining unbeaten on 54 off 40 balls, his fifth T20I half century, hitting six fours and one maximum and Azmatullah Omarzai chipping in with a quick-fire 18-ball 33, banging four sixes guided the visitors to amass a challenging target.

Skipper Shakib Al Hasan was the peak among the host bowlers picking up 2-27 while Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mustafizur Rahman scalped one wicket apiece.

Sent to bat, the tourists made a wobbling start as they lost their top four batsmen Hazratullah Zazai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz,, Ibrahim Zadran and Karim zanat for 8, 16, 8 and 3 respectively to leave the side at 52-4 in 7.4 overs.

However, Nabi and Zadran shared a 35 off 37 run stand to pull the side close to the hundred run mark before the latter gave a catch behind the stumps by Mehidy.

Then a late flurry from Nabi and Omarzai who formed a gusty 31-ball 56 partnership in the next stand aided the tourists to put up an exciting total before Shakib had him in the last delivery of the 19th over.