Hasan’s game-changing over, Rony’s blistering start, Shanto’s match-winning fifty: Which was your turning point?
Bangladesh won their first-ever T20I against England in a comprehensive six-wicket win at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Thursday.
While a well-rounded team effort ensured this memorable victory over the reigning T20 World Cup champions, three key performances managed to give the Tigers the upper hand in the contest.
Hasan's death-bowling prowess
After opting to bowl first, Bangladesh were under the cosh after giving reprieves to both England openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler. Though Nasum Ahmed removed Salt before for a 35-ball 38, Buttler managed to carry on and power some lusty blows to help motor the innings.
Up until the 16th over, England were going at a run-rate above eight runs an over, with a well-set Buttler, on 67 off 41 balls, at the crease.
In came Hasan Mahmud to bowl the 17th. The right-arm fast bowler has already built a reputation for himself for being able to execute yorkers at the death. And he did not disappoint as he managed to spear it up and around the popping crease making it difficult for the batters to get under it. Hasan started the over with a bang sending back the danger-man Buttler in the first ball of the over. He bowled it full and the England skipper tried to go over but failed to clear long-on. The dismissal of the set batter largely shifted the balance in Bangladesh's favour. Hasan conceded just one run in the over. He came back to bowl the 19th over where he picked up the wicket of all-rounder Sam Curran -- the player-of-the-tournament in the latest T20 World Cup - and gave away four runs.
Rony's blistering start setting the tone
Opener Rony Talukdar, who made a comeback to the national side after almost eight years, set the tone for the chase with his blistering cameo. The right-handed batter hit four boundaries in the first three overs of the chase for his 14-ball 21 which helped to take Bangladesh's score to 32 for naught after the first three.
The confidence he gained from scoring consistently in the recently concluded Bangladesh Premier League showed in his batting. The intent to be proactive and make use of the powerplay was there. He punished width as well as length and even took initiative to force the pace as he walked out a bit to send a full one from Chris Woakes straight down the fence.
Shanto's exhibition of good batsmanship
The momentum that Rony had set in motion was carried on and even bettered at times by Shanto, who perhaps played his best T20I knock so far. An exhibition of good batsmanship was on display when Shanto came to the crease. Straight from the offset, he was on his toes looking to score. The left-handed batter hit gaps immaculately and rotated the strike with ease. He was conscious of punishing length as on several occasions, he was able to rock onto the back foot and smash it towards mid-wicket. The 24-year-old reached his fifty in just 27-balls, his third in the format for the Tigers.
Underwhelming strike-rates, and playing too many dot balls were at the forefront whenever Shanto face criticism but on Thursday, he seemed to have overcome that problem. At the time he reached his fifty, Shanto played only six dot balls, which undoubtedly was a hallmark of his knock. When he was dismissed by Mark Wood in the 12th over, Bangladesh needed 44 runs off 46 balls. The damage had been done and Shanto had orchestrated it. His 65-run stand with debutant Towhid Hridoy had taken Bangladesh to a pole position for a memorable victory.