Kingstown [Saint Vincent and the Grenadines], June 17 (ANI): Nepal bowlers unleashed their fury to floor Bangladesh batters for 106 in their Group D match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2024 at the Arnos Vale Ground on Sunday (local time).
Sompal Kami with the new ball was the architect of Bangladesh’s batting collapse on a pitch that had decent grass cover later it was the captain Rohit Paudel who bagged two important wickets, making use of the favourable bowling conditions on offer. Bangladesh posted 106 thanks to Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed’s 18-run last-wicket partnership.
Opted to bowl first, Nepal’s Kami made the most out of the bowling favour pitch as he removed Tanzid Hasan for a golden duck in the very first over of the game. Building on that early breakthrough, Dipendra Singh in the second over of the game gave Bangladesh another blow, removing Najmul Hossain Shanto for 4.
Litton Das’s lean patch continued as his top edge went straight up behind the wicket, where the keeper Aasif Sheikh took a safe catch. Kami rewarded the skipper’s decision to give him a third consecutive over. The Nepalese then picked up wickets in the fifth and sixth over to cap off a dominant Powerplay, having the Tigers 31/4 at the six-over mark.
Towhid Hridoy showed some positive intent but his stay was cut short by Paudel, compounding Bangladesh’s struggles. Nepal kept chipping away wickets at regular intervals. The seasoned duo of Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah then came together to help stabilise the innings. Mahmudullah’s demise came just as they appeared to be rebuilding, thanks to a misunderstanding.
Bangladesh attempted an innings rehabilitation with the field more spread out and worked their way past 50. But the crucial dismissal of Mahmudullah (13 off 13) had Bangladesh on the ropes after a miscommunication caused a frustrating runout.
Bangladesh’s hopes rested on the shoulders of Shakib Al Hasan to bail them out of trouble however the star all-rounder fell prey to Paudel after scoring 17 runs.
Sandeep Lamichhane bagged his 99th T20I wicket as he castled Tanzim Hasan Sakib for 3. The Nepalese spinners then took charge, chipping away at the wickets in the middle session. However, Nepal’s decision to give Abinash Bohara the 19th over rather than a frontline bowler may come back to haunt them, as he conceded 11 runs, however a run out in the last over ended Bangladesh’s innings for 106.
Thanks to the last-wicket stand of 18 runs between Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed, Bangladesh were able to scrap their way to 106.
Brief score: Bangladesh … (Shakib Al Hasan 17, Rishad Hossain 13; Sompal Kami 2-10) vs Nepal. (ANI)
