A thrilling day of cricket unfolded in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Thursday, June 13th, with both Group D and Group B witnessing nail-biting encounters.
Bangladesh was pushed on by their progress closer to the Supper 8 after defeating the Netherlands by 25 runs in a crucial match at Arnos Vale Stadium, in Group D fixture. The Dutch fell short of reaching their target, despite some brave batting effort.
The experienced Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan played a cruciall role for his side where he made the top score of 48 runs, putting in the anchor role after some batting wickets earlier on in the game. At the top of the order, Liton Das scored a rapid 32 runs. Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman shared four wickets to restrict the Dutch scoring during the powerplay overs.
Netherlands’ captain Pieter Seelaar resisted with a gritty 42, but crucial wickets derailed their chase. Young Bangladeshi spinner Rishad Hossain took three wickets, breaking partnerships and stifling the Netherlands’ momentum. Taskin Ahmed returned to polish off the tail, securing a vital win for Bangladesh.
Shakib Al Hasan was pleased with the result, saying, “It was a good win for us. We anticipated a competitive match, and credit to the Dutch team for fighting hard. We need to take this momentum into our next match and hopefully secure our place in the Super 8s.”
Meanwhile, in Port of Spain, the Brian Lara Cricket Academy witnessed another thriller as the West Indies edged past New Zealand by 13 runs in a Group B clash.
The West Indies batted first, scoring a competitive 149 runs, mainly due to an explosive late cameo by young Sherfane Rutherford, who made 34 from just 18 balls. Despite disciplined bowling by the Windies, New Zealand’s chase came to hold. Kane Williamson held the fort at one end with a gallant 48 while the wickets fell at regular intervals, however, their chase did not achieve its objective.
Sheldon Cottrell’s match-winning numbers were courtesy of three wickets, while the remaining bowlers made vital contributions. At the end of the game, Sherfane Rutherford gave a remarkable performance and was named Man of the Match.
These victories for both Bangladesh and the West Indies keep their respective qualification hopes alive. Bangladesh, now in second place in Group D, needs just a win against South Africa in their final group match to secure their Super 8 berth. West Indies, leading Group B, require one more win to advance to the next stage.
With both groups open to competition, the buzz around the Twenty-20 World Cup is evident. The upcoming matches offer more exciting cricket as teams compete for a spot in the prestigious Super 8 round.
