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In a landmark match at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, Bangladesh secured a thrilling 21-run victory over Nepal, successfully defending the lowest total in the history of the tournament. The match, held at the picturesque Arnos Vale Stadium in Kingstown, St Vincent, saw Bangladesh's bowlers deliver a masterclass in disciplined bowling and strategic execution.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Bangladesh faced a challenging start. Nepal’s bowlers, led by Sompal Kami and Sandeep Lamichhane, exploited the conditions expertly. Bangladesh's top order struggled against the disciplined Nepali attack, with early wickets putting them on the back foot. Litton Das (14) and Shakib Al Hasan (17) managed to offer some resistance, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.
Bangladesh through to the Super Eights at #T20WorldCup 2024 🔥#T20WorldCup | #BANvNEP | 📝 https://t.co/IM9uaM1JIf pic.twitter.com/akcKdfadbd
— ICC (@ICC) June 17, 2024
Sompal Kami's spell of 2 for 10 and Sandeep Lamichhane 2 for 17 restricted Bangladesh to a modest total of 106 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. The lower order, with contributions from Taskin Ahmed (12 not out) and Shoriful Islam (11), managed to push the total past the three-figure mark, giving their bowlers something to defend.
Bangladesh’s bowlers rose to the occasion with an extraordinary performance. Defending a low total, Tanzim Hasan set the tone by claiming four wickets for just seven runs, applying immense pressure on Nepal's top order. Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan supported brilliantly, taking three and two wickets respectively.
Bangladesh defend the lowest total at a men's T20 WC to power into the Super Eights!
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 17, 2024
đź”— https://t.co/ldykr7y9tb | #BANvNEP pic.twitter.com/Z6sZZu28yB
Nepal's innings faltered from the outset. Tanzim's early breakthroughs saw Nepal reeling at 26 for 5. Despite a valiant 57-run partnership between Kushal Malla (27) and Dipendra Singh Airee (25), the required run rate continued to climb, and Nepal’s batsmen could not withstand the relentless pressure from the Bangladeshi bowlers. Nepal was eventually bowled out for 85 in 19.2 overs.
Key Performances and Turning Points
Bangladesh Batting: Shakib Al Hasan (17), Taskin Ahmed (12 not out), Shoriful Islam (11)
Nepal Bowling: Sompal Kami (2/10), Sandeep Lamichhane (2/17)
Nepal Batting: Kushal Malla (27), Dipendra Singh Airee (25)
Bangladesh Bowling: Tanzim Hasan (4/7), Mustafizur Rahman (3/7), Shakib Al Hasan (2/9)
A wicket-maiden in the 19th over!
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 17, 2024
Mustafizur Rahman, death over monster 🔥
đź”— https://t.co/ldykr7y9tb | #BANvNEP pic.twitter.com/EpJUnpDrqn
Post-Match reactions
Bangladesh Captain: "This win is monumental for us. Our bowlers were exceptional, showing great skill and composure. Defending such a low total is never easy, but our belief and execution were spot on. We must work on our batting, but this win gives us immense confidence heading into the Super 8s."
Nepal Captain, Rohit Paudel: "Our bowlers did an excellent job restricting Bangladesh, but our batting did not deliver as expected. We need to take more responsibility, especially at the top. We will learn from this and come back stronger. There is great potential in this team, and we aim to showcase it in the future."
With this victory, Bangladesh joins Group 1 in the Super 8s, where they will face formidable opponents including India, Australia, and Afghanistan. The team will need to maintain their exceptional bowling standards and significantly improve their batting performances to advance further in the tournament.
Super 8 Groups
Group 1: India, Australia, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh
Group 2: USA, West Indies, England, and South Africa
As the T20 World Cup progresses, the excitement and intensity are expected to rise. Bangladesh’s historic defense of their low total will be remembered as one of the highlights of the tournament. Fans can look forward to more thrilling matches and standout performances in the coming weeks.
