T20 WC: Third loss in a row dashes Bangladesh hope

BANGLADESH'S dream for making the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2021 got virtually over on Friday (29) when they crashed to their third consecutive defeat in the group, this time to defending champions West Indies who beat them narrowly by three runs in Sharjah.

The Tigers needed 13 runs in the last over to reach the target of 143 that the Caribbeans had set for them but a miserly over from all-rounder Andre Russell dashed their hopes. His nailing yorkers saw Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah (31 not out off 24 balls) and Afif Hossain (2 not out off 2) managing only nine in the final six deliveries.

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The defeat also means Bangladesh remain winless in the final rounds of a T20 World Cup since their six-wicket win over the West Indies in the inaugural edition played in South Africa in 2007.

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However, Bangladesh looked favourites to win the game after they won the toss and asked Kieron Pollard’s side to bat first. The Caribbean top order struggled to score and when Russell got run out without facing a delivery in the 13th over, the West Indies were reeling at 62 for 4. But debutant Roston Chase’s 39 off 46, Nicholas Pooran’s 40 off 22, Jason Holder’s 15 not out off five and Pollard’s 14 not out off 18 powered the West Indies to a competitive 142 for 7 in 20 overs.

For Bangladesh, Mehedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam took two wickets each. Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan did not get any reward.

Chasing the target, Bangladesh were reduced to 60 for 3 in the 11th over and it was then when Liton Das (44 off 43) held the innings together. He added 40 runs with Mahmudullah in 5.3 overs but got dismissed in the final delivery of the penultimate over. Bangladesh then struggled to get the remaining runs off Russell.

For the West Indies, Ravi Rampaul, Holder, Russell, Akeal Hosein and Dwayne Bravo took one wicket each.

Pooran was adjudged the man of the match.

The win kept the West Indies in hunt for a semi-final spot after they lost their first two matches to England and South Africa.