Bangladesh clinched a thrilling victory over Nepal, securing their place in the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The match, filled with twists and turns, saw Bangladesh defending their lowest-ever T20I World Cup total successfully.
Facing a must-win situation against Nepal to progress, Bangladesh started poorly with early wickets falling cheaply. Sompal Kami’s early breakthroughs put Bangladesh on the back foot, as they struggled to 31/4 by the end of the Powerplay overs.
Despite efforts to stabilize the innings, key dismissals, including that of Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan, left Bangladesh reeling at 57/5 at the drinks break. Rohit Paudel and Sandeep Lamichhane further dented Bangladesh’s hopes, with Lamichhane claiming his 100th T20I wicket.
Bangladesh managed to muster a total of 106 runs, with a crucial 18-run partnership proving decisive in the end.
In reply, Nepal faced a challenging chase and lost early wickets, stumbling to 24/4 during the Powerplay. Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee provided resistance, steering Nepal towards a competitive position with a steady partnership. Despite losing Malla in the 17th over, Airee’s valiant effort kept Nepal in contention, needing 22 runs off the final 12 balls.
However, Mustafizur Rahman turned the tide for Bangladesh with a pivotal wicket-maiden over in the 19th, sealing a dramatic 21-run victory. This victory not only propelled Bangladesh into the next round but also marked a historic achievement as they defended the lowest total ever in a T20 World Cup match.
Bangladesh’s resilience and strategic brilliance in crunch moments ensured their advancement in the tournament, setting the stage for their Super Eight campaign.
