Based on the excellent and versatile performance of Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh won the must win match by 26 runs against co-host Oman to keep their Super 12’s hopes alive in the T20 World Cup.
Shakib hit a quick 42, then took three wickets with the ball in hand, while Bangladesh narrowed the co-hosts to 127 for nine after scoring 153 formidable runs in 20 overs at Al Amarat’s cricket ground.
Oman once put a lot of pressure on Bangladesh, which entered the game as favorite.
Chasing a challenging total, Oman managed to get off to a flying start despite losing two wickets, both scalped by left-arm paceman Mustafizur Rahman, inside the powerplay as the co-hosts scored 47 for two after six overs.
Jatinder Singh and Oman skipper Zeeshan Maqsood then stitched together a 34-run third-wicket stand and were looking ominous, set to chase down the target. However, off-spinner Mahedi Hasan removed skipper Zeeshan, thanks to a fantastic diving catch by Mustafizur at deep square leg, in the 12th over to put an end
to the growing partnership.
Shakib provided the most crucial blow to Oman when the left-armer had the danger man Jatinder Singh hole out to Liton Das in the very next over. With Jatinder back in the pavilion after a fighting 33-ball 40, Oman found it hard to accelerate and keep up with the rising required rate at the death.
Shakib also got Ayaan Khan and Naseem Khushi in successive deliveries in the 17th over, reducing Oman to 105 for seven in 16.4 overs, as the premier all-rounder ended with impressive figures of three for 28 in four overs.
Mustafizur also picked up four wickets but the left-arm pacer was a bit on the expensive side, giving away 36 runs while bowling as many as eight wides.
Earlier, Bangladesh opener Mohammad Naim’s fifty (64 off 50) and Shakib’s 29-ball cameo that included six boundaries helped the Tigers recover from a precarious position and post a challenging total.