KINGSTOWN: Experienced all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan scored an unbeaten half-century and powered Bangladesh to a competitive total against the Netherlands in the 27th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 here on Thursday.
Set to chase a daunting 160-run total, the Netherlands only managed 134/8 in the allotted 20 overs despite Sybrand Engelbrecht’s blistering knock.
The Dutch side got off to a shaky start to the pursuit as they lost both their openers Michael Levitt (18) and Max O’Dowd (12) in successive overs with just 32 runs on the board.
Coming out to bat at No.4, Sybrand Engelbrecht formed two important partnerships for the Netherlands with Vikramjit Singh (26) and Scott Edwards before Rishad Hossain dismissed him in the 15th over.
Engelbrecht remained the top-scorer for the Netherlands with a quickfire 33 off 22 deliveries with the help of three fours and a six.
Following his dismissal, the Netherlands lost three more wickets in quick succession and consequently slipped to 117/7 with 43 needed in 17 balls.
Aryan Dutt then retaliated briefly with an unbeaten 15 off 12 but his efforts were not enough to guide the Netherlands to glory.
Rishad Hossain was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh with brilliant figures of 3/33, followed by Taskin Ahmed, who bagged two wickets.
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Sent into bat first, Bangladesh registered 159/5 on the board, courtesy of an anchoring third-wicket partnership between Tanzid Hasan and Shakib.
Bangladesh, however, had a contrasting start to their innings as they lost their skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and wicketkeeper batter Litton Das inside the batting powerplay with just 23 runs on the board.
Following the early hiccup, Shakib joined Tanzid in the middle and the duo formed a stabilizing partnership.
They added a brisk 48 runs to the total at a brisk rate before Tanzid fell victim to Paul van Meekeren in the ninth over.
Tanzid Hasan remained a notable run-getter for Bangladesh with a 26-ball 35 with the help of six boundaries including a six.
Bangladesh then lost another wicket when Tim Pringle cleaned up Towhid Hridoy in the 13th over. He made a scratchy nine off 15 deliveries.
Shakib then took the reigns of Bangladesh’s batting charge against the Netherlands and formed an important partnership with in-form Mahmudullah, who made a 21-ball 25, before walking back to the dugout in the 18th over.
Later, Shakib Al Hasan and Jaker Ali (14 off seven) added quick runs at the backend for Bangladesh with their unbeaten 29-run partnership.
Shakib top-scored for Bangladesh with an unbeaten 64 off 46 balls, laced up with nine fours.
Paul van Meekeren and Aryan Dutt claimed two wickets each for the Netherlands while Pringle made one scalp.
For the unversed, Bangladesh are second in Group D of the T20 World Cup 2024 with two points in two matches, closely followed by the Netherlands, who boast a similar record but an inferior net run rate.