Super 12 win for Bangladesh
BANGLADESH won their first-ever game in a Twenty20 World Cup Super 12 on Monday (24), with Taskin Ahmed taking 4-25 as the Netherlands imploded early and never recovered, losing by nine runs.
The Dutch, who battled through the preliminary round to reach the Super 12, held the Asian nation to 144-8 with Paul van Meekeren becoming his country’s joint all-time T20 wicket-taker along the way.
But they got off to a horror start in the run chase, losing two wickets off the first two balls to Ahmed then suffered two run-outs in one over to slump to 15-4 in cold conditions at Hobart.
Colin Ackermann with 62 played a lone hand, making his maiden T20 half-century as the Netherlands were all out for 135 on the final ball.
Veteran Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has played in every edition of the World Cup since its inception in 2007 and this was his first Super 12 victory. “It was an important win, I’ve played all editions but haven’t won and that was on the back of my mind,” he said.
“Taskin has been a good bowler for us, he has the experience and pace. Most of the fielders... are agile and quick, in the field we can save five to 10 runs, and that could be the big difference.”
Defeat was a heavy blow for the Dutch with two points desperately needed in a group that features heavyweights India, Pakistan and South Africa. But it was a relief for Bangladesh, who had suffered from poor form since the 2021 World Cup.
“Our bowlers were quite amazing, but our run-outs (Max O’Dowd and Tom Cooper) were poor,” said Netherlands skipper Shaun Edwards.
“Hopefully we can bring in a better performance with the bat, looking forward to the next challenge (against India).”