Reigning champions Bangladesh started their campaign in the 17th Asian Games with a thumping 203-run win over lowly Kuwait at Yeonhi cricket ground in Incheon on Wednesday.
Asked to bat first, Bangladesh made merry with Kuwait bowlers to post 224-9 in their 20 overs before spinners helped the side dismiss the cricket-novice opponents for just 21 runs in 13 overs.
The win set up an intriguing semi-final against Sri Lanka today, a game which is most crucial for Bangladesh as they attempt to retain the gold medal they won in 2010.
One-down Mohammad Mithun was the supreme beneficiary of Kuwait’s amateurish bowling hitting 59 off 25 balls. Although matches of the Asian Games have no international or List A status, Mithun’s batting rocketed the Tigers to their highest total at any level of Twenty20 cricket.
Later Arafat Sunny picked 4-8 while Mahmudullah grabbed 3-1 in their respective two-over spell to script the victory that was presumed even before a single ball was bowled.
Kuwait looked overwhelmed with the opportunity to play against a Test playing country and the joyous celebration after picking each wicket in front of their several hundred supporters proved what it meant to them.
Though Tigers earned the win cashing in on inexperience of their opponents, it cannot be described as confidence boosting win as they had their share of agony too when they were nearly embarrassed of getting all-out.
Eissa Jassim could not hold the catch of Rubel Hossain that went for a four in the last ball of the Bangladesh innings to save them from the embarrassment.
Some embarrassment began in the first over when opener Tamim Iqbal was dropped at point by Al Kandari Mohamamad in the fourth ball before Bangladesh struck their first boundary.
Tamim finally made 28 runs before he was caught by Fawad Bastaki off Bastaki Mahmood’s ball in a son and father combination after the opener miscued a square cut.
‘I was afraid of playing cricket only twice in my life,’ Tamim told reporters after the match.
‘Once when I played Shoaib Akter and once today as hardly did I understand what kind of bowling I am facing,’ he added jokingly.
Bangladesh kept a healthy run rate though wickets fell at regular intervals as Anamul Haque (38 off 18 balls), Sakib al Hasan (23 off 15 balls) and Sabbir Rahman (35 off 18 balls) all chipped in with decent scores.
Among the recognized batsman only Nasir Hossain was unable to perform significantly as he made nine runs facing 11 balls.
Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe believes that the AJ ball played a crucial part in the fall of so many wickets.
‘The ball is not good and its get softer quickly, that’s why lot of guys caught in the boundary,’ said Hathurusinghe.
‘We can’t judge our performance against this opposition. Our main game is tomorrow and that is very crucial. I think we are prepared and confident,’ said Hathurusinghe
‘You can’t judge our batting by the falling of nine wickets against this side. In fact, this is good sign as everyone got a chance. I think we crossed 200 but that not a game to see at,’ he added.
-With New Age input
