Bangladesh stay alive with win over Oman

An all-round performance from premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan today helped Bangladesh register a 26-run victory in their must-win game against co-hosts Oman to stay alive in the T20 World Cup. 

Shakib scored a quick-fire 42 and then scalped three wickets with the ball in hand as Bangladesh restricted the co-hosts to 127 for nine after posting a challenging 153 in 20 overs at the Al Amerat Cricket Stadium. 

Oman, however, at one stage put tremendous pressure on Bangladesh, who went into the game as favourites.

Chasing a challenging total, Oman managed to get off to a flying start despite losing two wickets, both scalped by left-arm paceman Mustafizur Rahman, inside the powerplay as the co-hosts scored 47 for two after six overs. 

Jatinder Singh and Oman skipper Zeeshan Maqsood then stitched together a 34-run third-wicket stand and were looking ominous, set to chase down the target. However, off-spinner Mahedi Hasan removed skipper Zeeshan, thanks to a fantastic diving catch by Mustafizur at deep square leg, in the 12th over to put an end to the growing partnership. 

Shakib provided the most crucial blow to Oman when the left-armer had the danger man Jatinder Singh hole out to Liton Das in the very next over. With Jatinder back in the pavilion after a fighting 33-ball 40, Oman found it hard to accelerate and keep up with the rising required rate at the death. 

Shakib also got Ayaan Khan and Naseem Khushi in successive deliveries in the 17th over, reducing Oman to 105 for seven in 16.4 overs, as the premier all-rounder ended with impressive figures of three for 28 in four overs. 

Mustafizur also picked up four wickets but the left-arm pacer was a bit on the expensive side, giving away 36 runs while bowling as many as eight wides. 

Earlier, Bangladesh opener Mohammad Naim's fifty (64 off 50) and Shakib's 29-ball cameo that included six boundaries helped the Tigers recover from a precarious position and post a challenging total. 

Shakib gets two in two

[Wicket] Overs 16.4, Oman 105/7: Shakib gets two in two and is on a hat-trick. This time it's Naseem Khushi, who too holes out too long-off. 

[Wicket] Overs 16.3, Oman 105/6: Shakib Al Hasan gets the wicket of Ayaan Khan, who tried to go over the top but ended up giving an easy catch to Mahmudullah Riyad at long-off.  

Five down Oman under pressure      

[Wicket] Overs 15.3, Oman 101/5: Sandeep Goud slaps a Mohammad Saifuddin short delivery straight to cover as Oman are now five down and looking to have lost the momentum in their chase of Bangladesh's 153.  

Shakib removes danger man Jatinder

[Wicket] Overs 12.6, Oman 90/4: Wickets in successive overs for Bangladesh. And this time it is the danger man Jatinder Singh, who falls after trying to hit Shakib Al Hasan for a six but was only able to find the fielder at deep square leg. Shakib gets a crucial breakthrough that could turn the game around in Bangladesh's favor. 

Mahedi breaks Oman's crucial stand

[Wicket] Overs 11.2, Oman 81/3: Off-spinner Mahedi Hasan breaks a crucial partnership as he removes Oman skipper Zeeshan Maqsood. Zeeshan went for a slog sweep but fails to connect it properly as Mustafizur Rahman takes a splendid diving catch at deep square leg. The wicket ended a 34-run stand between Jatinder Singh and Zeeshan. 
  

Oman off to a flying start despite Fizz's double strike

[Wicket] Overs 5.4, Oman 47/2: Mustafizur Rahman induces an edge off the bat of Kashyap Prajapati as Nurul Hasan Sohan takes an easy catch behind the stumps. However, Oman already got off to a flying start despite losing opener Aqib Ilyas to Mustafizur early. Mahmudullah Riyad had dropped Jatinder Singh on 10 in the very first delivery of this over. Meanwhile, Prajapati, who departed after an 18-ball 21, was also dropped on seven in the third over off a Mohammad Saifuddin delivery. 

Fizz strikes early

[Wicket] Overs 1.1, Oman 13/1: Mustafizur Rahman traps Aqib Ilyas for a leg-before in his first legitimate delivery as Oman lose their first wicket in the beginning of the second over.   

Naim, Shakib help Tigers to 153
Mohammad Naim and Shakib Al Hasan helped Bangladesh recover from a precarious situation and post a challenging total against co-hosts Oman in their second First Round Group B match of the T20 World Cup at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Turf 2, today.

An 80-run third-wicket stand between Naim and Shakib helped Bangladesh post 153 all out after the Tigers had lost two early wickets. 

Liton Das and Mahedi Hasan, who was promoted up the order, departed early, leaving Tigers reeling at 21 for two after 4.3 overs. With Oman pacers Bilal Khan and Kaleemullah getting the ball to shape away from the batters, Bangladesh struggled to get off to a decent start. 

However, Shakib and Naim steadied the rocking ship with Shakib playing the role of the aggressor. Shakib improvised with his scoops and cuts before a direct hit had him run out after a 29-ball 42, featuring six boundaries. 

Naim was dropped on 18 and 26 but managed to recover and score a fifty. He smashed four sixes and three fours before holing one to deep midwicket after a 50-ball 64. 

Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad's 10-ball 17-run cameo helped the Tigers finish with a competitive total on a seemingly slow wicket at the Al Amerat Stadium.

Naim, Afif depart as Tigers try to accelerate at the death        

[Wicket] Overs 16.4, Ban 122/6: Bangladesh lost Mohammad Naim and Afif Hossain in the same over. Naim, who was looking to get into the groove after struggling initially, gave catch to deep midwicket with Bangladesh trying to score quick runs at the death. After being dropped twice -- on 18 and 26 -- Naim managed to strike a fifty. He walks off after a 50-ball, 64 that featured three fours and four maximums. 

[Wicket] 16.1, Ban 120/5: With Bangladesh trying to accelerate at the death, Afif Hossain holed on up to the fielder at extra cover while trying to hit a six. Bangladesh recovered well after a stuttering start but the wickets of Shakib, Nurul and Afif have once again shifted the momentum towards Oman. 

[Wicket] 14.6, Ban 112/4: Zeeshan Maqsood removes Nurul Hasan Sohan as he tries to go for a long heave over long-off but was only able to find the fielder. 

Direct hit sends Shakib back after a 29-ball 42

[Wicket] 13.3, Ban 101/3: Oman, who have so far been had an abysmal day in the outfield, produce a moment of brilliance in fielding as Fayyaz Butt sends Shakib Al Hasan back with a splendid direct hit. Shakib, who tried to sneak a single after negotiating a yorker-length delivery, was found well short as he had to walk off after a promising 29-ball 42. The wicket also ended an 80-run partnership bewteen Shakib and Naim. Shakib was looking to cut loose after the Tigers had a stuttering start. The premier all-rounder played shots all around the ground, smashing six boundaries during his stay. 

Shakib, Naim help Tigers recover

After 10 Overs, Ban 63/2: Although Bangladesh are not being able to score fluently, the Tigers somewhat recovered from a vulnerable situation with Mohammad Naim and Shakib Al Hasan stitching together an unbeaten 42-run stand for the third-wicket after opener Liton Das and Mahedi Hasan departed early. Shakib, who struck three boundaries, had to innovate to get some runs on a slow pitch at the Al Amerat Stadium while Naim has been lucky. Naim moved on to 32 off 31 deliveries but only after being dropped on 18 and 26. 

Mahedi, Liton depart early

[Wicket] 4.3 Overs, Ban 21/2: Right-arm pacer Fayyaz Butt removes Mahedi Hasan, who has been promoted up the order for this game, with a stunning return catch. Mahedi tries to play over midwicket but fails to connect and ends up giving a catch to the bowler. Bangladesh, who have been struggling to score runs in the powerplay, are now in a spot of bother. Mahedi goes without troubling the scorers. 

Liton fails to impress despite reprieve

[Wicket] 2.5 Overs, Ban 11/1: Liton Das, who survived a close-call and a dropped catch, goes without impressing as he is trapped in front by Oman pacer Billal Khan. A fuller length delivery, that came in towards the right-hander, hit the front pad. Oman reviewed after the umpire didn't give out and the review showed the ball would go on to hit middle stumps. Liton was dropped on the previous ball when he flicked a ball off his pads in the fine-leg region. He walks out after a disappointing seven-ball six.   

Bangladesh elect to bat in must-win game against Oman

Bangladesh T20I skipper Mahmudullah Riyad won the toss and elected to bat in their do-or-die contest against co-hosts Oman in the Tigers' second First Round Group B match of the T20 World Cup at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Turf 2, today. 

After a shock six-run defeat against Scotland in their World Cup opener, the Tigers now sit third in Group B with zero points and a net run rate of -0.30. Bangladesh would need to win both their remaining matches -- against Oman today and against Papua New Guinea on Thursday -- and also hope for favourable outcomes in other Group B fixtures in order to qualify to the Super 12s. 

Opener Mohammad Naim, who was dropped from the squad against Scotland despite preparing the left-handed opener in the last 16 games for Bangladesh ahead of the mega event, returns to the playing eleven as was hinted by coach Russell Domingo ahead of the game. Naim replaced Soumya Sarkar, who scored a run-a-ball five against Scotland. 

Meanwhile, Oman, who began their World Cup campaign with a thumping 10-wicket victory over Papua New Guinea last Sunday, made one change to the squad as Fayyaz Butt replaces Khawar Ali. 

A win for Oman today will see them and Group B leaders Scotland progress to the next stage. 

Playing XI: 

Bangladesh: Liton das, Mohammad Naim, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad (c), Afif Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman

Oman: Aqib Ilyas, Jatinder Singh, Kashyap Prajapati, Zeeshan Maqsood (c), Mohammad Nadeem, Ayaan Khan, Sandeep Goud, Naseem Khushi, Kaleemullah, Fayyaz Butt, Bilal Khan