Dhaka, Bangladesh – The Eid celebrations in Bangladesh received an extra dose of joy and excitement as the national cricket team secured a crucial victory against Nepal in their final group stage match of the ICC T20 World Cup. The triumph ensured Bangladesh’s spot in the Super Eight, bringing cheer to fans nationwide on this festive day.
A Crucial Win
Playing at the Arnos Vale Ground in Kingstown, Saint Vincent, Bangladesh faced Nepal with a clear objective: to win and advance to the Super Eight. Despite a shaky batting performance, Bangladesh’s bowlers, led by Tanzim Hasan Sakib, delivered a stellar performance, leading to a 21-run victory.
Bangladesh’s Innings
After winning the toss, Nepal elected to bowl first. Bangladesh, maintaining their previous playing XI, struggled initially. Opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim was dismissed on the first ball by Sompal Kami. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto followed soon, scoring only 4 runs before being bowled by Dipendra Singh Airee.
Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy also failed to make significant contributions, leaving Bangladesh at a precarious 30 for 4. A brief partnership between Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah Riyad offered some respite, but a mix-up led to Riyad’s run out for 13 runs. Shakib Al Hasan top-scored with 17 runs, as Bangladesh was eventually bowled out for 106 in 19.3 overs. Notably, Sompal Kami, Dipendra Singh Airee, Rohit Paudel, and Sandeep Lamichhane each took 2 wickets for Nepal.
Nepal’s Response
Nepal’s chase began promisingly but was quickly derailed by Tanzim Hasan Sakib’s exceptional bowling. In the second over, Sakib dismissed Kushal Bhurtel and Anil Shah without conceding a run. He continued his dominance by removing Nepal’s captain Rohit Paudel and Sandeep Jha, achieving career-best figures of 4-2-7-4.
Despite a resilient 52-run partnership between Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee, Nepal couldn’t recover. Mustafizur Rahman broke the partnership, finishing with figures of 4-1-7-3. In the penultimate over, Rahman bowled a maiden and dismissed Airee. Shakib Al Hasan wrapped up the match by taking two wickets in the final over, bowling out Nepal for 85 runs.
Celebration and Joy
The victory added a special flavor to the Eid celebrations across Bangladesh. Families and friends gathered to celebrate not only the festival but also the national team’s success. Social media was abuzz with congratulatory messages and expressions of pride for the Tigers’ accomplishment.
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Bangladesh confirmed their place in the Super Eight, where they will face formidable teams like Australia, India, and Afghanistan. The win against Nepal has set a positive tone for the upcoming challenges, and fans are hopeful that the Tigers will continue their winning streak.
The morning victory against Nepal has undoubtedly given the Eid celebrations in Bangladesh an exhilarating boost, filling the hearts of millions with pride and joy.