This was always going to be a dogfight, especially with the Netherlands having handed Bangladesh an 87-run thrashing in the ODI World Cup last October. On Thursday afternoon at Arnos Vale in Saint Vincent, roles were reversed, with Bangladesh indebted to some sublime late-overs bowling from Rishad Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman for an uiltimately convincing 25-run victory that had them eyeing a place in the Super Eights.
Bangladesh owed their total of 159-5 to a 46-ball 64 not out from Shakib Al Hasan, an emphatic response to relentless talk about his lack of form, and a sprightly 26-ball 35 from Tanzid Hasan at the top of the order. A 7-ball 14 from Jaker Ali at the death also provided the innings a boost it badly needed.
The Netherlands lost because they committed cricket’s ultimate sin – each of the top five batters got set, and faced at least 16 balls, yet the highest score was Sybrand Engelbrehct’s 33. The rest of the batting order was largely clueless against Rishad’s ripping leg-breaks and Mustafizur’s cutters and other variations. Before Engelbrecht was caught off the top edge, the Netherlands needed 49 off 33 balls with seven wickets in hand. But once Rishad, who looks a star in the making, dismissed him and Bas de Leede, smartly stumped, in the space of three balls, they couldn’t stop the innings going into free fall.
Mustafizur chipped in with the vital wicket of Scott Edwards, the captain, caught at short third man off the top edge, and finished with the miserly figures of 1-12. Taskin Ahmed, who had started the slide by dismissing the dangerous Michael Levitt, caught at point, finished things off by flattening Tim Pringle’s stumps.
Bangladesh had made their customary horror start, with Najmul Hossain Shanto, the skipper, reverse-sweeping Aryan Dutt to first slip in the second over. Litton Das, who has struggled for form in 2024, also fell to Dutt, or more accurately to a stunning catch from Engelbrecht, running in front deep square leg.
Tanzid and Shakib repaired the damage at a brisk clip, and though Towhid Hridoy failed, Mahmudullah stitched together a 41-run partnership with Shakib in 5.2 overs. Ultimately, though, it was Shakib’s 13th T20I half-century and the three fours that Jaker struck that made all the difference. If they can get their batting to click, Bangladesh have the bowling to be dangerous floaters in the Super Eights.