Bangladesh have avoided a famous capitulation to claim a tense 21-run victory over Nepal and seal their spot in the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup.
With a win enough to qualify them ahead of the Netherlands in their group, the Tigers looked in dire straits when an inspired Nepalese bowling performance reduced them to 106 all out on a tricky surface in St Vincent and the Grenadines – Bangladesh’s lowest ever score against an Associate nation.
Summing up their horror show with the bat was opener Tanzid Hasan’s bizarre decision to charge opening bowler Sompal Kami’s first ball of the match, succeeding only in bunting a simple return catch.
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Finishing with a run out after a fine piece of fielding from captain Rohit Paudel, Nepal, who were eliminated after a heartbreaking one-run loss to South Africa in which they needed just 18 runs from the final three overs but fell in a heap, looked set to end their tournament on a high – and give the Netherlands a chance to overtake Bangladesh on net run rate.
However, for the second match in a row, the Associates crumbled under pressure, with an inspired bowling performance from young quick Tanzim Hasan (4/7 from four overs) ripping through the Nepalese top order.
Having slumped to 5/26, not even a 52-run stand from Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee could rescue the innings, veteran seamer Mustafizur Rahman (3/7) returning for a two-over spell at the death in which he claimed two wickets and conceded just one run to all but seal the match.
Sealing victory in the final over with a pair of wickets from champion Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh will face Australia, India and Afghanistan in their Super 8s group, with the top two teams to progress to the semi-finals.
With their result immaterial, the Netherlands finished their tournament with a thumping 83-run loss to Sri Lanka.