Bangladesh made the record of defending the lowest-ever total in a T20 World Cup game in their 21-run win over Nepal in a Group D game at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown today to secure their spot in the Super Eight.
After managing to post just 106 all out in 19.3 overs, Bangladesh, inspired by a breathtaking opening spell from pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib, bundled Nepal out for 85 in 19.2 overs. Bangladesh were at the wrong end of the previous lowest total defended as the record belonged to South Africa when they had restricted the Tigers to 109 while defending a 113-run total earlier in a group game in New York this World Cup.
Sakib was the star of the show today, making the record of bowling the most dots — 21 — by any player in a T20 World Cup game as he finished with figures of four for seven in his four overs, including two maidens. Sakib’s bowling figure is also the second-best by a Bangladeshi in T20 World Cups after Mustafizur Rahman’s five for 22 against New Zealand in the 2016 T20 World Cup.
Sakib got things going when he got a double-wicket maiden in the third over, removing Kushal Bhurtel and Anil Sah. While Taskin Ahmed was taken for two boundaries in the next over, Sakib returned to remove Nepal skipper Rohit Paudel, who hit a wide delivery straight into the hands of Rishad Hossain at backward point.
Mustafizur Rahman joined the party by taking the wicket of Aasif Sheikh in his first over before Sakib removed Sundeep Jora in the final delivery of his final over to see Nepal reeling at five for 26 after seven overs.
Nepal, however, got back into the game with authority through a 52-run sixth-wicket stand between Dipendra Singh Airee and Kushal Malla. But just when it seemed Bangladesh were losing their grip on the game, Mustafizur gave the Tigers a crucial breakthrough as he removed Malla in the 17th over after a 40-ball 27.
Mustafizur returned to bowl a brilliant penultimate over, bowling a wicket-maiden to get rid of danger-man Dipendra Singh Airee (25 off 31) as Nepal were left needing 22 off the final over. Star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan got two in two in the first two deliveries of the final over to get to 49 wickets in T20 World Cups — most by any player — and wrapped things up for the Tigers.
Sakib takes four as Nepal stumble early
Bangladesh pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib gave the Tigers the perfect start with the ball as he picked four quick wickets to leave Nepal in a spot of bother in their chase of a 107-run target in the T20 World Cup Group D match in Kingstown today.
After 10 overs, Nepal find themselves tottering at 42 for five.
Defending a low total, Bangladesh needed early wickets and Sakib delivered just that. With Sakib spewing fire, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto had Sakib bowl all of his four overs at a stretch and the pacer finished with figures of four for seven with two maidens — the second-best figures by a Bangladeshi in T20 World Cups after Mustafizur Rahman’s five for 22 against New Zealand in the 2016 T20 World Cup.
Sakib also bowled 21 dots in the game — most by any player in a men’s T20 World Cup game.
Sakib got a double-wicket maiden in the third over, removing Kushal Bhurtel and Anil Sah. While Taskin Ahmed was taken for two boundaries in the next over, Sakib returned to remove Nepal skipper Rohit Paudel, who hit a wide delivery straight into the hands of Rishad Hossain at backward point.
Mustafizur Rahman joined the party by taking the wicket of Aasif Sheikh in his first over before Sakib removed Sundeep Jora in the final delivery of his final over to provide Bangladesh a flying start.
