Bangladesh’s biggest star shone at the right time to help his team qualify for the Super 12s stage of the T20 World Cup. Shakib-al Hasan delivered with both bat and ball as Bangladesh crushed Papua New Guinea (PNG) by 84 runs in a qualifier on Thursday.
Bangladesh, with a net run rate of +1.733 and four points, thus staged a good turnaround after the opening loss against Scotland to book a place in the main round of the tournament.
They first posted an imposing 181/7, riding skipper Mahmudullah’s blazing 50 off 28 balls and Shakib’s aggressive 46 off 37 balls. Shakib then showed why he is counted among the world’s top all-rounders as he delivered a brilliant spell of 4/9 with the ball. PNG were all-out for 97 in 19.3 overs.
Chasing a 182-run target, PNG were in trouble right from the onset. They lost openers Lega Siaka (5) and skipper Assad Vala (6) cheaply, slipping to 13/2.
Thereafter, it was a procession of dismissals, as Shakib, who played for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the recently-concluded IPL, snared two wickets in the 5th over.
With the opposition tottering at 14/4, Bangladesh were eyeing a massive victory.
While Shakib scalped another two, he was well complimented by young off-spinner Mahedi Hasan (1/20), as the inexperience of PNG batters came to the fore when they were reduced to 29/7.
As the minnows faced absolute embarrassment, their wicketkeeper-batsman Kiplin Doriga, who came out to bat at No.8, offered some resistance. His attacking knock of 46 not out off 34 balls helped PNG reach a more respectable score before they were finally bowled out in 19.3 overs.
Mood upbeat
Bangladesh were obviously relieved having qualified for the tournament proper. Shakib, who was adjudged Player of the Match, expects the team to do better in the upcoming matches. “Obviously, it was a setback, the first game (vs Scotland), but in the T20 format the team that is better on the day wins,” Shakib said after the game.
About his own performance, Shakib said: “It’s not an easy format to get back into form, but luckily I’m getting more chances to bat up the order. A little tired… I’ve been playing non-stop cricket for the last five-six months. But hopefully I can pull this tournament off.”
Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah 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 we wanted to play, the intent was there from the batters,” Mahmudullah said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
He, however, feels that Powerplay overs are 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. We need to find the bowlers we can take on, on that particular day, and communicate with the others as experienced batters,” the captain said.
Brief scores: Bangladesh 181/7 in 20 overs (Mahmudullah 50, Shakib 46). Papua New Guinea 97 in 19.3 overs (Kiplin Doriga 46 n.o.; Shakib 4/9, Taskin Ahmed 2/12). Bangladesh won by 84 runs.
