Tigers finally roared with some of their intensity defeating Netherlands to make a winning start in the ICC T-20 Men’s World Cup on Monday.
After enormous condemnation with the Tigers’ potential in the T-20 format they just proved their mettle in the right time at the beginning of the World Cup when a large number of fans have huge confusion with the match against Netherlands.
Bangladesh broke their winning draught after a long time when they have been struggling to get rid of the tough time, as they could win only four matches last one year.
The victory, which was turned into mandatory for the Tigers to find out the exit from the losing ground and have been trying heart and soul, made it success to have a great relief.
Held at Hobart, though the Tigers’ batting was not so rewarding, as it was expected at least against the Netherlands, the underdogs on the day, they (Tigers) had triumphed the victory.
Bangladesh could make 144 runs to through a moderate target for the Dutch but against the Tigers’ bowling attacks, they were in under pressure right from the beginning losing four wickets with 15 runs on the board.
Against Taskin, Shakib and Hassan Mahmud’s disciplined bowling attacks Netherlands’ leading batters could not ward off, as they lost the top orders in regular intervals.
Taskin Ahmed was the star of the show with claiming his career best four wickets for 25 runs when the lone quick bowler of Bangladesh struck with the first ball of the innings and picked up two wickets with the first two balls of the Netherlands chase of tigers’ 144 runs. Hassan Mahmud was too impressive with picking up 2 for 15.
Netherlands’ middle order batter Colin Ackermann and late order bats Paul van Meekeren tried to show their guts with quick-fire 62 off 48 balls and 24 off 14 respectively threatened to make upset but the Tigers keep their cool to bundled out them for 135 runs.
The most coveted winning start in the World Cup might be a great tonic for the Tigers to retrieve their winning habits but both their batting and overall bowling still yet to be impressive. After long time Bangladesh got an excellent opening stand of 43 runs from 5.1 overs but could not carry on the momentum, due to middle collapse and the late orders were not impressive failing to help scoring a big innings.
During the bowling, despite putting the Netherlands under tremendous pressure taking four wickets for 15 runs, could not take the advantage of early breakthrough, as Colin Ackermann at the middle and Paul van Meekeren at the late turned into great threat.
At one stage Netherlands lost their seventh wicket on 81 and it was anticipated that they wouldn't cross 100. But that time, due to feeble spells from Soumaya Sarker helped the Netherlands to make the match closer.
Colin Ackermann at the middle looked desperate when turned into danger making the Bangladesh bowlers very ordinary with hitting a couple of sixes and six fours in his 62 runs innings and late order bats Paul van Meekeren tried to show his guts cracking four boundaries and a six in his quick-fire 24 off 14.
So, both the Tigers’ batters and the bowlers will have to be more convincing in their next matches when rest of the matches will be uphill task for them.