Before the start of the series, Bangladesh was far from winning the series against the world champions England in international T20 cricket. Tigers saw that elusive victory in the first T20 in Chittagong. And in the second match of the series in Mirpur, the English lost by 4 wickets. Bangladesh wrote a fairy tale by winning the series for the first time.
In a low-scoring match, Bangladesh lost 2 wickets to score 32 runs in the power play chasing runs. Two openers Rony Talukder and Liton Das both scored 9 runs. Calm-hearted took the lead of the team on the next wicket. But the heart could not last long. He returned for 17 runs off Rehan Ahmed’s ball.
Mirage was then sent to the crease. This all-rounder repaid the trust. With Nazmul Hossain Shanta’s partnership of 41 runs, he gave the team the basis of victory. After that, Shakib got out for zero runs and Afif got out for 2 runs. Meanwhile, Shanta played at the end. Tigers also won with Taskin. Shanta remained unbeaten on 46 runs and Taskin on 8 runs. Bangladesh scored 120 runs in 18.5 overs.
Tiger captain Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and sent England to bat at the beginning of the match. After losing the toss, the visiting England lost the wicket at the start. Opener David Malan was dismissed for a personal 6 runs in the third over of Taskin Ahmed’s innings.
25 runs came from the bat of Phil Salt, another opener. Team leader Jos Buttler could not facilitate. English team leader Jos Buttler was bowled by Hasan Mahmud’s individual 5 runs. Moeen Ali was caught by Shamim Patwari in the last ball of the next over bowled by Mehdi Miraj. He scored 15 runs.
Ben Duckett and Sam Curran tried to handle the pressure in the fifth wicket partnership. But no one could make much use of staying at the crease for a while. Then, in the 15th over of Mirage’s innings, Curran returned to personal 12 runs. Chris Woakes was dismissed for no runs in the same over. Duckett 28, Rehan 11 runs and Archer got out for zero runs. Adil Rashid remains unbeaten by 1 run.
Tiger spinner Mehdi Hasan Miraj took maximum four wickets at the cost of only 12 runs for Bangladesh. Besides, four bowlers took one wicket each.
(12 March/MM)