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T20 World Cup: Tigers brought crashing down to earth by clinical Scots
Fighting every step of the way after at one stage looking down and completely out of the contest in their first match of the T20 World Cup, Scotland upset Bangladesh by six runs on Sunday at Muscat, Oman with a performance worthy of Braveheart.
Coming on the back of two official warm-up matches against Sri Lanka and Ireland that they also lost, it completed an ignominious hattrick of defeats for the Bangladesh team, on their first assignment overseas following a dominant home season against Australia and New Zealand, where the uniquely unsporting pitches raised eyebrows among various quarters, as to whether they could provide the kind of preparation necessary for an apex event such the ICC's T20 World Cup.
More than one BCB official had sung the hymn of 'confidence-building' at that - the flawed belief that simply getting some wins under your belt can help you stand taller in your following matches. But when the players themselves are well aware of the part played by the dreadful pitches in those wins, any confident posture accruing from those results is likely to be false, at best.
Sunday's match was only the second T20I between these two teams, and Scotland have now won both. For the first hour or so of the game though, the Tigers did look the part.
Chris Greaves displayed a remarkable performance both with bat and ball. He scored 45 off 28 balls and bagged two wickets conceding 19 runs in three overs. He played a pivotal role for Scotland to upset the Tigers.
To chase down the target of 141 in 20 overs, Bangladesh needed 54 in the last five overs, but they failed to achieve that. The onus was on Afif Hossain and Mahmudullah Riayd, but they couldn’t play their roles well.
Bangladesh’s hope was on Nurul Hasan Sohan as well. He has the ability to play big shots at the death overs. But on Sunday, he was haunted by Bradley Wheal thanks to a wonderful acrobatic catch by Calum MacLeod at the boundary.
Read: Mahedi takes career-best 3/19 in first T20 World Cup match
Mahedi takes career-best 3/19 in first T20 World Cup match
Bangladesh right-arm off-break bowler Mahehi Hasan earned his career-best bowling figures in his first match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup against Scotland at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground of Oman Sunday.
Mahedi, who claimed three wickets for 19 runs in a four-over spell, took two wickets in his first over.
The previous best bowling figures of Mahedi was 2/12 against New Zealand in Dhaka last month after making his T20 debut in 2018 against Sri Lanka.
Read: Shakib becomes highest-wicket taker in T20Is
The right-arm off-break bowler came to the attack in the eighth over of Scotland innings and grabbed the first wicket in his second ball, trapping Matthew Cross (11) lbw, leaving Scotland at 45/2 in 7.2 overs.
He removed opener George Munsey (29) in his fifth ball of the same over.
Later, Mahedi completed his three wickets haul, bowling out Calum Macleod (5) in his third over.
Read: T20 World Cup 2021: Five Bangladesh players to watch out for in the tournament
Earlier, all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan emerged as the highest wicket-taker in T20Is with 108 wickets, surpassing Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga (107 wickets), after taking two wickets in the day's T20 World Cup match against Scotland.
With the day's feat, Shakib became the only cricketer in the world to take 600 wickets in international cricket alongside scoring 12,000 runs.
23rd NCL begins at four venues
The eight-team four-day Bangabandhu 23rd National Cricket League (NCL) began Sunday at four venues in Chattogram, Sylhet and Cox's Bazar
Hosts Sylhet Division are trailing by 74 runs against Dhaka at the end of the first day.
Winning the toss at the Academy Ground of the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium (SICS), Sylhet batted first and were bundled out for 67 runs in 17 overs in the first innings.
In reply, Dhaka scored 176 for all in 41 overs, on the back of a 50 by Shuvagoto Hom, 47 runs by Mahidul Islam Ankon and 35 by Abdul Mazid.
Spinner Enamul Haque Jr grabbed four wickets for 66 runs; Ebadot Hossain claimed three wickets for 34 runs.
Sylhet opened the second innings in the afternoon and scored 35 for 1 in 17 overs to trail by 74 runs.
Hosts Chattogram are trailing by 40 runs against Rajshahi Division at stumps on day one.
Asked to bat first at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram (ZACS), Rajshahi Division were all out for 166 in 41.3 overs.
Towhid Hridoy (68), Sanjamul Islam (21), and Sabbir Rahman (20) were the top run-scorers for Rajshahi.
Read: Bangabandhu 23rd NCL begins Sunday
Nayeem Hasan grabbed four wickets for 42 runs; Irfan Hossain and Mehedi Hasan Rana took two wickets for 24 and 39 runs.
In reply, Chattogram scored 126 for 2 in 33 overs. Yasir Ali and captain Mominul Haque remained unbeaten on 70 and 32 runs.
Taijul Islam bagged two wickets, conceding 46 runs.
Barishal are trailing by 233 runs against Dhaka Metro.
Dhaka Metro opened the innings first and scored 239/10 in 82.5 overs at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox's Bazar, with Sadman Islam scoring 75 runs, Sharifullah 59 and Abu Hider Rony 38.
Tanvir Islam snatched six wickets for 78 runs; Kamrul Islam took four for 43 runs.
In reply, Barishal scored six runs for one in three overs.
In the second round, Dhaka will meet Rangpur at the SICS. Khulna will face Sylhet at the SICS Academy Ground, Chattogram will play against Barishal at the ZACS; Dhaka Metro will encounter Rajshahi at the SICS Academy Ground.
Shakib becomes highest-wicket taker in T20Is
The wait is finally over! Bangladesh star allrounder Shakib Al Hasan became the highest wicket-taker in T20Is. He surpassed the Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga on Sunday while taking two wickets against Scotland in Bangladesh’s first match of the T20 World Cup.
Along the way, Shakib completed 600 wickets in international cricket. He has earlier completed 12000 runs in international cricket as well.
Shakib is now the only cricketer on the planet to score more than 12000 runs and at least 600 wickets in international cricket. South African legend Jack Kallis is right after him with more than 25000 runs and 577 wickets.
Read: T20 World Cup 2021: Five Bangladesh players to watch out for in the tournament
The left-handed all-rounder was close to surpassing Malinga in the Australia series at home, but he couldn’t. He was also close to touching the fate in the New Zealand series, but he failed once again.
Now, in the World Cup, Shakib finally surpassed Malinga and became the highest wicket-taker in the shortest format of international cricket.
Read: Tigers to put onus on skill over power: Mahmudullah on eve of T20 WC
Malinga had taken 107 wickets in 84 matches. Shakib needed to play 89 matches to surpass him. Shakib has four four-wicket and one five-wicket hauls in the format as well.
T20 World Cup: Scotland post a moderate total of 140 vs Bangladesh
Scotland posted a moderate total of 140 for nine in 20 overs against Bangladesh on Sunday at Muscat. It was the first match of the T20 World Cup for both teams.
Mahmudullah Riyad won the toss and sent Scotland in to bat first.
Bangladesh made the better start as with the score on 5/0, Mohammad Saifuddin removed Scotland captain Kyle Coetzer for a duck in the third over.
They recovered a bit though, and in the powerplay, Scotland scored 39 losing one wicket. In the last over of the powerplay, Mustafizur Rahman conceded 13 runs with a four and a six.
Read: T20 World Cup 2021: Five Bangladesh players to watch out for in the tournament
T20 World Cup: Saifuddin bags Bangladesh’s first wicket
Coming to bowl at number three over, allrounder Mohammad Saifuddin bagged Bangladesh’s first wicket in the T20 World Cup 2021.
Bangladesh are taking on Scotland in their first Round 1 match on Sunday at Muscat Oman.
It was Kyle Coetzer, the Scotland captain, who was removed by Saifuddin. The right-handed pacer bowled a terrific delivery right in the blockhole. The batter tried to drive it away through the off side but missed the ball which has shattered his off stump.
Read: T20 World Cup 2021: Five Bangladesh players to watch out for in the tournament
Scotland were at five when they lost the first wicket of the match.
Earlier, Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl first. Taskin Ahmed started the innings giving only four runs in the first over while Mustafizur Rahman came at number two and gave away only one.
Read: Tigers to put onus on skill over power: Mahmudullah on eve of T20 WC
At the end of the fifth over, Scotland were batting at 26 for one with George Munsey was unbeaten for 19 off 16.
Oman thumps debutant PNG by 10 wkts in T20 World Cup
Openers Jatinder Singh and Aqib Ilyas smashed unbeaten half centuries as co-host Oman thumped debutant Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets in its opening first-round Group B game on Sunday.
Singh scored 73 off 42 balls and Ilyas made 50 that eased the host to 131-0 with more than six overs to spare.
Earlier, skipper Zeeshan Ashraf (4-20) registered Oman’s best figures in a T20 and pinned down PNG to 129-9.
“These are our home conditions, we knew even 140 could be chased easily,” Ashraf said. “We knew the wicket was playing very well, we needed to make sure we didn’t give away loose balls and easy boundaries.”
PNG captain Assad Vala (56) and Charles Amini (37) did well to share an 81-run stand after openers Tony Ura and Lega Siaka had played Oman fast bowlers back onto their stumps without a run on the board.
Read: T20 World Cup 2021: Five Bangladesh players to watch out for in the tournament
But Amini’s run-out was followed by Singh taking a brilliant running catch at long-on before Ashraf, the left-arm spinner, grabbed three wickets in an over to derail the PNG innings.
Singh, played several impressive reverse sweeps, hitting seven fours and four sixes without any of the seven bowlers used by Vala able to trouble the batsman. He raised the victory with a six over mid-wicket in the 14th over.
The 131-run stand was Oman’s best partnership for any wicket in a T20 and the chase, without losing a wicket, was the third-highest in men’s T20 internationals.
“On that wicket, 129 was never going to be enough,” Vala said. “We were looking at 160-plus to give ourselves a chance. (First) Charles got run out, then myself getting out, (and) we lost our way. I think a lot of credit goes to Maqsood and his boys.”
Bangladesh and Scotland are the other two teams in the group and will play later Sunday. Group A comprises Ireland, Namibia, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands.
Read: Tigers to put onus on skill over power: Mahmudullah on eve of T20 WC
The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 12 stage that starts in the United Arab Emirates next Saturday.
Five years ago, Oman sprung a surprise when it beat Ireland in its opening T20 World Cup game in India.
Bangladesh vs Scotland: Riyad asks Scots to bat first, picks 3 seamers
Bangladesh won the toss and opted to field first against Scotland in their T20 World Cup opener on Sunday at Muscat, Oman.
“The wicket looks good to bat on, but we want to chase down here,” Mahmudullah said right after winning the toss. "We want to play our best cricket, and we have included three allrounders in our playing eleven.”
Bangladesh overlooked opener Mohammad Naim and included Soumya as the opener. Along with Soumya, Liton Das will open the innings for Bangladesh.
T20 World Cup 2021: Five Bangladesh players to watch out for in the tournament
With the dreams and expectations of millions of people at heart, the Bangladesh national cricket team will embark on a World Cup mission on October 17. Bangladesh will have to qualify for the Super 12 through the qualifying round after failing to make the top eight when the ICC announced the tournament schedule. Therefore, no match in the qualifying phase should be treated lightly. The five players that can make a difference for Bangladesh in the ICC T20I World Cup 2021 are discussed in this article.
Top 5 Potent Bangladeshi Players in 2021 T20I World Cup
Bangladesh selectors picked a 15-man squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in 2021, with one stand-by player. Here are five players that have the potential to rise to the occasion and make a significant contribution to Bangladesh's progress in the tournament.
Shakib Al Hasan (All-Rounder)
M: 88 | Runs: 1,763 | HS: 84 | SR: 121.41 | Wkts: 106 | BBI: 5/20 | Econ: 6.73
Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan became a regular starter for Kolkata Knight Riders in the just-completed IPL 2021. His all-around brilliance helped the Kolkata team reach the final. So, Shakib will enter the World Cup with a high level of confidence. Shakib is a huge part of Bangladesh's team. Not to mention, he has the ability to cause fear in the opponent's camp with a brilliant all-around display. It will be fantastic news for Bangladesh if Shakib can flourish in the Twenty20 World Cup 2021.
Read Tigers to put onus on skill over power: Mahmudullah on eve of T20 WC
Mahmudullah Riyad (Captain, all-rounder)
M: 102 | Runs: 1,771 | HS: 64* | SR: 118.69 | Wkts: 33 | BBI: 3/18 | Econ: 7.18
Captain Mahmudullah Riyad is a vital part of the Bangladesh team. He has already established himself as Bangladesh's most successful T20 skipper. Mahmudullah recently proved his credentials as captain by leading his team to victory in a T20 series against New Zealand and Australia at home. That's why Mahmudullah's captaincy at the 2021 T20 World Cup would be crucial for Bangladesh. Riyad also happens to be the team's most potent hard hitter. He has a knack for hitting big shots in death overs and can also pick up wickets at crucial moments. The Bangladesh team management would be hoping for the top performance from the team captain.
Read Bangabandhu 23rd NCL begins Sunday
Mushfiqur Rahim (Batsman)
M: 91 | Runs: 1,321 | HS: 72* | SR: 115.57
Mushfiqur Rahim is Bangladesh's most dependable batsman. His batting in the middle order will be crucial to Bangladesh's innings. Therefore, Mushfiqur will have to shoulder a bit more responsibility in order to maintain stability in Bangladesh's batting. However, the right-hand batsman has been struggling with the bat in recent days. Hopefully, Mushfiqur will return to his best form during the World Cup.
Read Sadid: The 6-year-old leggie who wowed Tendulkar
Mustafizur Rahman (Medium pacer)
M: 52 | Wkts: 76 | BBI: 5/22 | Econ: 7.48
Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman was in excellent form in the just-concluded IPL. Mustafiz got 14 wickets for the Delhi Capitals. So, regaining his form will strengthen the Bangladesh campaign. If the cutter-master finds his usual rhythm during the tournament, the opponents will experience serious trouble. Mustafizur Rahman may secure his place among the top wicket-takers in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 if he can adapt his bowling with the UAE's pitches.
Read T20 World Cup 2021: Bangladesh vs. Scotland Match Preview
Liton Das (Batsman)
M: 38 | Runs: 711 | HS: 61 | SR: 129.74
Liton Das will have to shoulder a bit more responsibility in the opening position in the absence of Tamim Iqbal. Because one of the opening batters must bat all the way through the innings. This stylish opener must play the anchor role for the team. However, Liton hasn't performed well for Bangladesh in recent days. If Liton Das can make a good start in the World Cup, Bangladesh will be able to play with confidence in the tournament.
Read Toppers List at the end of the IPL 2021
Bottom Line
Bangladesh national men's cricket team will have to play as a unit to showcase their true potential in the World Cup. The players must have a good understanding of one another to achieve the goal.
The team management, together with head coach Russell Domingo and captain Mahmudullah Riyad, must construct a suitable game plan for the competition. Though, the main goal would be to bring the team together so that they can perform well on the field.
The five players mentioned above are the most experienced in the current Bangladesh national cricket team setup. They will have to carry the bulk of the responsibilities in the ICC T20 Men's World Cup 2021.
Read Dravid to be Team India's next head coach?
Tigers to put onus on skill over power: Mahmudullah on eve of T20 WC
The latest edition of the ICC T20 World Cup is all set to commence from Sunday in Oman. On the first day of the event, Bangladesh will take on Scotland at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground Oman Cricket on Sunday at 8pm Dhaka time.
The match will be telecast in Bangladesh by Gtv, T Sports, and Btv while Rabbithole will telecast through YouTube.
Ahead of the first match, Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah Riyad said they will focus more on skilled batting instead of power-hitting which is more popular in the shortest format of international cricket.
“We know we don’t have power-hitting batters like other teams do, but we are confident in our skilled hitting ability. We will focus more on this skill in the World Cup,” Mahmudullah told in the pre-event press conference on Saturday in Muscat.
Bangladesh lost both of their warm-up matches in the UAE against Sri Lanka and Ireland. The Tigers’ captain believes it won’t be doing anything to damage the confidence of the players. He also thinks that the underperforming Mushfiqur Rahim is only one good innings away from finding his old form back.
“Mushfiqur is a batter who has the ability to turn the contest our way at any moment,” Mahmudullah said. “As a cricketer, you can go through a bad patch at any moment, and at the same time, you can get out of at any moment. I believe Mushfiqur needs only a good match to get back to form. We are not bothered about him. He can do well tomorrow (Sunday).”
Read: T20 World Cup 2021: Bangladesh vs. Scotland Match Preview