Tigers closer to next level
On a foggy evening under lights, amidst thousands of supporters screaming at the top of their voices, Bangladesh took one more step towards eliminating the pre-tournament fears of an early exit in the ICC World Twenty20 by securing a comfortable eight-wicket win over Nepal at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium yesterday.
The win has taken the hosts to the top of group A with four points in two games. All Bangladesh require now is a win against Hong Kong on Thursday, to join the big league.
Good pace bowling from Al-Amin Hossain and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza helped restrict Nepal to 126 for five after the hosts elected to field. In reply, the Tigers rode on their highest opening stand -- 63, between Anamul Haque and Tamim Iqbal -- to race home with 27 balls remaining.
Both Tamim and Anamul got into their grooves quite early during the chase, with Anamul smacking Sompal Kami for a six and four in the very first over.
Nepal captain Paras Khadka introduced himself into the attack to stop the run-flow and that's when Tamim cut loose. At first he cut Khadka, behind point in the fourth over and then launched him for a six over long-on in the sixth over. The pair scored 53 runs at the end of six overs.
Tamim's overly aggressive approach however led to him getting caught at short third man for a 22-ball 30 in the eighth over. Anamul, after scoring a flurry of boundaries, was run out after a mix-up with Sabbir Rahman in the 11th over for a 33-ball 42.
The game however, was in the bag by then and both Shakib Al Hasan and Sabbir finished it with a number of lofty hits. Shakib in particular seemed in a hurry.
With 26 runs required off the last six overs, Shakib smacked Shakti Gauchan for three sixes and attempted to finish the game with another hit in the last ball of the over, only to get a single. He however got his wish in the very next over -- after refusing a single to a ball hit to long on -- and finished the game in style by launching Sagar for a six over long-on.
Earlier, a stable 85-run stand for the fourth wicket between Khadka and Sharad Vasawkar helped Nepal put up a respectable total after slipping to a precarious 39 for 3 in seven overs.
Al-Amin, who removed both Sagar Pun and Gyanendra Malla in the seventh over, was the chief reason behind Nepal's slump. He finished with economical figures of two for 17 in four overs.
Khadka and Vasawkar, however, cautiously stitched a comeback for the Himalayan nation. The pair played out the spinners and looked to attack the part-time pacers.
Nasir Hossain, who was given three overs and bowled medium pace due to excessive dew on the field, was driven for two boundaries in the 13th over by Khadka. There was a slice of luck for Vasawkar, who Mushfiqur Rahim failed to stump twice in the 14th over off Shakib Al Hasan. The ball kept low on both occasions.
At 107 for three in 17 overs, they looked good to close in on the 140-mark. However, some good bowling from the hosts ensured that the visitors score just 19 off the last three and were restricted to 126 for five.
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