All-round show helps Bangladesh move into ‘Super 12’ stage in T20 WC

Shakib Al Hasan decimated Papua New Guinea with a superb all-round performance as Bangladesh qualified for the ‘Super 12’ stage of the T20 World Cup with a crushing 84-run victory on Thursday.

Bangladesh, with a net run rate of +1.733 and four points in its kitty, ensured a place in the next round, after a shocking opening match defeat against Scotland. The ‘Tigers’ first posted an imposing 181 for seven, as it rode on skipper Mahmudullah’s blazing 50 off 28 balls and Shakib’s 46 off 37 balls.

Shakib then showed why he is Bangladesh’s greatest-ever player with a brilliant spell of 4 for 9 as Papua New Guinea was all-out for 97 in 19.3 overs. Losing the first match against Scotland was a setback, but in the T20 format, the team that is better on the day wins. Now, the pressure is off and we can express ourselves, Shakib, who was adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’, said after the Group B fixture.

It is not an easy format to get back into form, but luckily I am getting more chances to bat up the order. I am a little tired as I have been playing non-stop cricket for the last five to six months. It has been a long season for me, added Shakib.

Scotland defeated Oman by eight wickets to make it three wins out of three in the First Round, and sailed into the ‘Super 12’ phase with a 100 per cent record.

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