Ban vs Nep: Bangladesh Shows Grit While Defending a Low Total to Make Their Way to Super 8

The drama in Group D of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 was as thick as the Caribbean humidity. Bangladesh, the team whose qualification hung in the balance, were far from cruising towards the Super Eights. South Africa had already secured their place, leaving just one remaining ticket up for grabs. The weight of expectation rested entirely on the shoulders of the Tigers. This was a winner-takes-all clash against Nepal. Victory meant progression. Defeat, however, would leave their fate dangling by a thread, dependent on the outcome of the Sri Lanka vs Netherlands clash – a scenario where they desperately needed the Dutch to fail. The tension was palpable, and Bangladesh knew the script they needed to follow – win at all costs.

Bangladesh’s bowlers ultimately orchestrated a historic victory, etching their names in the record books by successfully defending the lowest total ever witnessed in a T20 World Cup match.

Ban vs Nep: Bangladesh’s Fragile Batting Performance

Nepal, eager to bow out on a high, started brightly. Sompal Kami dismissed Tanzid Hasan caught and bowled with the very first delivery of the match, setting the tone for a potentially unsettling afternoon for Bangladesh. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto’s dismissal in the second over further accentuated the early anxieties.

The Nepalese bowlers continued their dominance throughout the Powerplay, adding two more wickets in the fifth and sixth overs respectively. Bangladesh found themselves in a precarious position at 31/4 after just six overs.

The Tigers attempted to rebuild their innings with a more spread-out field, slowly grinding their way past the 50-run mark. However, the crucial dismissal of Mahmudullah (13 off 13) via a frustrating run-out due to a miscommunication put Bangladesh on the back foot once more. Heading into the drinks break at 57/5, Bangladesh desperately needed a significant change in momentum.

Right-arm off-spinner Rohit Paudel sensed an opportunity and delivered a sharp-turning ball that trapped the dangerous Shakib Al Hasan (17 off 22) LBW. Things went from bad to worse for Bangladesh as Sandeep Lamichhane, the 23-year-old leg-break bowler, etched his name in history by claiming his 100th T20 International wicket – a remarkable feat achieved in just his 54th cap – with two crucial scalps.

The final blow came in the 20th over, with Paudel executing a precise run-out to dismiss the last Bangladeshi batsman, bundling them out for a meager 106. However, a crucial 18-run partnership in the final stand proved to be a vital contribution in the larger context of the match.

Ban vs Nep: Nepal’s Stuttering Start in the Chase

Nepal’s chase mirrored Bangladesh’s struggles in the early stages. A fiery double-wicket maiden in the third over by Tanzim Hasan Sakib led to a heated exchange on the field, reflecting the mounting pressure in St. Vincent. Nepal stumbled to 24/4 by the end of the Powerplay, facing a daunting mountain to climb. The dismissal of Sundeep Jora in the following over left them in a precarious position on 5/29.

However, Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee displayed immense grit, forming a crucial partnership that steadied the chase and kept them in contention. They reached the drinks break at 42/5, needing to maintain a run-a-ball approach. A crucial 16th over swung the momentum in Nepal’s favor, leaving the match hanging in the balance. Two boundaries from Malla propelled the partnership past the 50-run mark, and with four overs remaining, the required run rate had dropped to a manageable 7.5.

Unfortunately for Nepal, the dismissal of Malla (27 off 40) in the 17th over was a significant setback. Despite a well-timed six from Airee that kept Nepal’s hopes alive, the equation had become challenging – needing 22 runs off the final 12 balls.

Enter the hero of the hour, Mustafizur Rahman. In the 19th over, he delivered an unplayable and perfectly-timed wicket-maiden, effectively sealing the match for Bangladesh. Nepal fell short by 21 runs, as Bangladesh etched their name in history, booking their place in the Super Eights with the lowest total ever defended in a T20 World Cup match.

Bangladesh Secures Historic Victory and Super 8 Spot

Despite their batting struggles, the Bangladesh Tigers displayed a fighting spirit that roared louder than the Caribbean crowd. Their bowlers, led by the exceptional Tanzim Hasan Sakib, emerged as the heroes of the day. Sakib’s fiery opening spell, culminating in a career-best 4/7, rattled the Nepalese top order and set the tone for a dominant bowling performance. Mustafizur Rahman, ever the dependable presence, echoed Sakib’s brilliance with a crucial 3/7 spell, stifling any momentum Nepal attempted to build. Shakib Al Hasan, the veteran all-rounder, chipped in with two important wickets, showcasing his experience and ability to deliver in high-pressure situations.

This collective bowling effort, displaying nerves of steel under immense pressure, was the cornerstone of Bangladesh’s historic victory. They not only defended a meagre total but did so with a level of control and composure that defied the odds stacked against them. It was a performance that will be etched in Bangladeshi cricketing folklore, a testament to their unwavering determination and ability to rise to the occasion when it mattered most.