Bangladesh’s chances of making the Super 8 stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup received a huge boost following their 25-run victory against the Netherlands at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, St Vincent, on Thursday (June 13). Shakib Al Hasan’s timely return to form (64* off 46) and Rishad Hossain’s impressive bowling performance (3-33) helped Bangladesh defend a total of 159. Meanwhile, with this game yielding a result, Sri Lanka were knocked out of contention for the next stage of the competition.
What Made the Difference?
Bangladesh’s death overs batting and Rishad Hossain’s fine spell. Bangladesh managed only 105 in 15 overs before accelerating in the death. A steady half-century from Shakib Al Hasan and cameos from Mahmudullah and Jaker Ali helped them score 54 runs in the last five overs. The Netherlands’ chase looked solid until Rishad’s strikes in his last two overs changed the game’s complexion, with Mustafizur Rahman also maintaining pressure, reports Cricket Live Score.
BANGLADESH
Powerplay: Positive Despite Early Wickets
Phase score – 54/2 [RR: 9.00, 4s/6s: 8/1]
The decision to bring in Aryan Dutt in place of Teja Nidamanuru paid off for the Netherlands as the offspinner had Najmul Hossain Shanto caught off a reverse sweep in the second over. After a quiet start, Tanzid Hasan got going with a six and two fours off Vivian Kingma in an 18-run third over. Litton Das’s attempted slogsweep resulted in Dutt bagging his second wicket, thanks to a sensational catch from Sybrand Engelbrecht. Tanzid Hasan continued to be positive, pulling Dutt for a four, while Shakib Al Hasan also contributed with a cover drive for a boundary off Paul van Meekeren. Shakib took on Logan van Beek in the sixth over, scoring four boundaries, as the 19-run overpowered Bangladesh to their third highest powerplay score in T20 World Cups.
Middle Overs: Netherlands Pull Things Back
Phase score: 51/2 [RR: 5.66, 4s/6s: 5/0]
Tanzid struck two fours off Bas de Leede in his opening over but after a quiet over from Dutt, the opener was dismissed by van Meekeren while attempting to pull against the wind. The Netherlands did well to reduce the scoring rate, conceding only 22 in the four overs after the powerplay. Shakib hit a four off Tim Pringle, but Dutt kept it tight, finishing with 2 for 17. Pringle then accounted for the wicket of Towhid Hridoy as Bangladesh slipped to 89/4. Shakib and Mahmudullah picked up a four each, but the Netherlands kept the scoring rate in check in the middle overs.
Death Overs: Shakib’s Fifty and Cameos Ensure a Positive Finish
Phase score: 54/1 [RR: 10.80; 4s/6s: 2/6]
Shakib slowed down as he neared his fifty, but Mahmudullah ensured Bangladesh maintained momentum in the death overs, hitting a six off van Beek, followed by a six and a four off Pringle. Shakib eventually reached his first fifty in his last 20 T20I innings. Van Meekeren bagged the important wicket of Mahmudullah and conceded only four runs in the 18th over. However, five boundaries were struck in the last two overs – three by Jaker Ali off van Beek in the 19th and two by Shakib off de Leede in the 20th – resulting in 26 runs.
NETHERLANDS
Powerplay: Bangladesh Keep Netherlands in Check
Phase score – 36/2 [RR: 6.00, 4s/6s: 6/1]
Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd provided a steady start for the Netherlands, with Levitt playing the aggressor’s role, hitting 2 fours and a six in the first four overs. Levitt survived a direct hit but eventually departed, slicing a catch to point off Taskin Ahmed in the fifth over. O’Dowd managed two fours but was dismissed in the sixth over when Tanzim Hasan Sakib held on to a return catch. Engelbrecht ended the over with a four, but the run rate of six meant the Netherlands had a lot of work to do.
Middle Overs: Netherlands Make Good Progress
Phase score – 75/3 [RR: 8.33, 4s/6s: 5/4]
Vikramjit Singh targeted the spinners, hitting two sixes off Shakib and clearing the fence off Rishad Hossain. Engelbrecht supported well, adding 37 brisk runs, but Vikramjit was stumped off Mahmudullah in the 10th over. In the same over, Scott Edwards struck a four, taking the Netherlands to 73/3 at the halfway stage, only two runs less than Bangladesh at the same stage. Engelbrecht’s six and a four off Shakib and Edwards’s regular boundaries helped the Netherlands slightly edge ahead. However, Rishad’s double strike in the 15th over, dismissing Engelbrecht and de Leede, shifted the momentum back to Bangladesh.
Death Overs: Rishad and Mustafizur Deliver Victory
Phase score – 23/3 [RR: 4.60, 4s/6s: 1/1]
With 49 needed off the last five overs, Shakib conceded only five runs in the 16th over. The pressure got to skipper Edwards, who top-edged a swipe off Mustafizur’s off-cutter. Mustafizur also gave away just one run, leaving the Dutch needing 43 off three overs. Rishad added van Beek’s scalp, and despite being hit for a six by Dutt, he finished with impressive figures. The Netherlands needed 36 off the last two overs but fell well short, with Mustafizur conceding only 12 runs in his 4 overs.
Brief Scores:
- Bangladesh: 159/5 in 20 overs (Shakib Al Hasan 64*, Tanzid Hasan 35; Paul van Meekeren 2-25, Aryan Dutt 2-17)
- Netherlands: 134/8 in 20 overs (Sybrand Engelbrecht 33, Vikramjit Singh 26; Rishad Hossain 3-33, Taskin Ahmed 2-30)
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