AL AMERAT, Oct 21: All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan decimated minnows Papua New Guinea with a superb all-round performance as Bangladesh qualified for the ‘Super 12s’ of the T20 World Cup with a crushing 84-run victory today.
Bangladesh, with a net run rate of +1.733 and four points in the kitty, ensured a place among the elite teams after a shocking opening game defeat against Scotland.
The ‘Tigers’ first posted an imposing 181/7, as they rode on skipper Mahmudullah’s blazing 50 off 28 balls and Shakib’s aggressive 46 off 37 balls.
Shakib then showed why he is Bangladesh’s greatest ever cricketer with a brilliant spell of 4/9 in his four-over spell as Papua New Guinea were all-out for 97 in 19.3 overs. (PTI)
“Obviously, it was a setback, the first game (vs Scotland), but in the T20 format the team that is better on the day wins. But now the pressure is off and we can play expressively,” Shakib, who was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’, said after the game.
“It’s not an easy format to get back into form, but luckily I’m getting more chance to bat up the order. A little tired, I’ve been playing non-stop cricket for the last five-six months, it’s been a long season for me. But hopefully I can pull this tournament off,” he sounded confident.
Skipper Mahmudullah, who himself played a captain’s knock was happy to see the intent of his players in the last two games which they won convincingly.
“I think it was much-needed. The way that we wanted to play, the intent was there from the batters. Having said that I think the wicket was better in comparison, so the batters did well to get 180,” Mahmudullah said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Mahmudullah however feels that Powerplay batting is still a concern for Bangladesh.
“I think the two things we’ve been concerned about are the first six overs with bat and ball. If we get a good start, we can capitalise, so I think we need to improve on that.
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