Bangladesh post highest total in 8 T20Is in Mirpur
After openers Liton Das and Mohammad Naim ensured Bangladesh get off to a commendable start, skipper Mahmudullah Riyad and wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul Hasan Sohan helped the Tigers to finish with a competitive total of 141 for six against New Zealand in the second match of the five-match T20I series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
The total remains the highest in the last eight T20Is played at the venue. The last time that Mirpur saw a better score was back in March 2020 when Bangladesh scored a total of 200 for three during their T20I encounter with Zimbabwe.
Bangladesh openers Naim and Liton were able to give the side a very good start as the duo stitched together a 59-run opening stand. The Tigers, however, lost three quick wickets -- those of Liton, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan -- after that and were left in a precarious situation in the middle.
A 34-run stand between skipper Mahmudullah and Naim had brought back stability before the latter fall following a run-a-ball 39 while trying to accelerate after a steady start.
But some quick runs from Mahmudullah and wicketkeeper-batsman Nurul at the death saw Bangladesh finish with a competitive total. Mahmudullah remained unbeaten for a 32-ball 37, featuring five boundaries, while Nurul was caught in the final delivery of the innings after a nine-ball 13.
For New Zealand, young all-rounder Rachin Ravindra remained most impressive for his figures of three for 22 in four overs.
Naim, Afif depart in quick succession
Opener Mohammad Naim and all-rounder Afif Hossain departed quickly after Bangladesh were looking to recover from a bit of a precarious situation in the second match of the five-match T20I series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
A 34-run stand between Naim and skipper Mahmudullah Riyad for the fourth-wicket had somewhat steadied the innings after Bangladesh had lost Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan in space of just nine deliveries.
Naim, after a run-a-ball 39, tried to accelerate and his attempt to clear the boundary off Rachin Ravindra only found the fielder at long-on in the 16th over. Afif, who looked shaky from the beginning, followed suit quickly as he was caught off an Ajaz Patel delivery the very next over.
Tigers lose Shakib, Mushfiqur, Liton in space of nine deliveries
After openers provided a decent start to Bangladesh, the Tigers lost Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan in space of just nine deliveries in the second match of the five-match T20I series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
New Zealand spinner Rachin Ravindra provided the breakthrough, picking up the wickets of Liton Das and Mushfiqur Rahim in successive deliveries in the 10th over. He broke a 59-run opening stand between Liton and Mohammad Naim when he had the former chop one onto his stumps. He then had Mushfiqur stumped in the very next delivery.
Shakib, during his brief stay at the crease, smashed two boundaries but found the fielder at long-off when trying to find his third off a Cole McConchie delivery. The premier all-rounder had to walk back after a seven-ball 12.
Liton, Naim give Tigers a decent start
Despite a dropped catch -- that of Liton Das -- Bangladesh managed to get a decent start in their second match of the five-match T20I series against New Zealand at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today.
Liton, trying to force a pull off the bowling of Cole McConchie by going across the line in the second over, hit the ball straight to Colin de Grandhomme at square leg but the fielder just could not hold on to it.
After being dropped on 0, Liton recovered well as the elegant right-handed opener struck left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel for two consecutive boundaries -- one a delightful drive over the cover and the other a well-timed cut shot through the off-side -- in the very next over.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Naim has not hit boundaries as often as his partner Liton, but the left-hander has consistently been finding ways to squeeze singles. He moved on to 16 off 18 deliveries, smashing just a solitary boundary, after six overs ended.
The spinners have been able to get some sharp turns, inducing edges at times, from the very first over of the game.