T20 World Cup result: Scotland pip Bangladesh in thriller
Scotland pulled off a remarkable fightback to win their Group B Round One T20 World Cup match against Bangladesh at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground in Al Amerat on Sunday 17 October.
After being put in to bat Scotland got off to a sluggish start, until George Munsey began lining up a few of the Bangladesh bowlers, however his attack was short-lived as glut of wickets after the powerplay left Kyle Coetzer’s team reeling.
Coetzer himself was the first wicket to fall, missing a straight one from Mohammad Saifuddin to depart for a seven ball duck.
Munsey and Matt Cross (11) put on 40 for the second wicket and threatened to establish a decent platform for Scotland to launch from.
Spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Mahedi Hasan soon had Scotland in tatters at 53 for 6. Shakib became the highest wicket-taker in Men’s T20Is with the wicket of Michael Leask.
However, South African-born, Scotland debutant Chris Greaves and Mark Watt led a fightback.
The pair put on a 51-run stand which ended when Watt (22) holed out to Taskin Ahmed.
Greaves struck 45 off 28 balls before departing in the final over, with his efforts allowing Scotland to put a competitive 140 on the board. Quick Safyaan Sharif also struck a couple of lusty blows at the death to give the bowlers something to defend.
Bangladesh might have felt reasonably confident setting off after a target of 141 but Josh Davey struck early, removing Soumya Sarkar (5) in the second over.
Hampshire seamer Brad Wheal and Greaves then did serious damage to the Bangladesh middle order. Greaves turned the match around with the ball as well, claiming the huge wickets of Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib.
With four overs remaining Bangladesh needed 49 runs to win, but with Mahmudullah still out in the middle the game was far from over.
When Wheal claimed the big scalp of Mahmudullah in the penultimate over the tide had well and truly turned in Scotland’s favour.
Sharif held his nerve bowling the final over and Scotland have a win that puts them in a strong position.
Scoreboard – T20 World Cup: Bangladesh vs Scotland
Scotland
G. Munsey b Mahedi 29
K. Coetzer b Saifuddin 0
M. Cross lbw b Mahedi 11
R. Berrington c Afif b Shakib 2
C. MacLeod b Mahedi 5
M. Leask c Liton b Shakib 0
C. Greaves c Shakib b Mustafizur 45
M. Watt c Soumya b Taskin 22
J. Davey b Mustafizur 8
S. Sharif not out 8
B. Wheal not out 1
Extras (lb4, nb1, w4) 9
Total (9 wickets, 20 overs) 140
Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Coetzer), 2-45 (Cross), 3-46 (Munsey), 4-52 (Berrington), 5-52 (Leask), 6-53 (MacLeod), 7-104 (Watt), 8-131 (Greaves), 9-131 (Davey)
Bowling: Taskin 3-0-28-1 (1nb), Mustafizur 4-1-32-2 (2w), Saifuddin 4-0-30-1 (2w), Shakib 4-0-17-2, Mahedi 4-0-19-3, Afif 1-0-10-0
Bangladesh (target 141)
Liton Das c Munsey b Wheal 5
Soumya Sarkar c Munsey b Davey 5
Shakib Al Hasan c MacLeod b Greaves 20
Mushfiqur Rahim b Greaves 38
Mahmudullah Riyad c MacLeod b Wheal 23
Afif Hossain c Davey b Watt 18
Nurul Hasan c MacLeod b Wheal 2
Mahedi Hasan not out 13
Mohammad Saifuddin not out 5
Extras (lb2, w3) 5
Total (7 wickets, 20 overs) 134
Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Soumya), 2-18 (Liton), 3-65 (Shakib), 4-74 (Mushfiqur), 5-106 (Afif), 6-110 (Nurul), 7-116 (Mahmudullah)
Did not bat: Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman
Bowling: Wheal 4-0-24-3, Davey 4-0-24-1 (1w), Sharif 3-0-26-0 (1w), Leask 2-0-20-0, Watt 4-0-19-1, Greaves 3-0-19-2 (1w)
Toss: Bangladesh
Result: Scotland beat Bangaldesh by six runs
Umpires: Ahsan Raza (PAK), Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
TV umpire: Chris Gaffaney (NZL)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)