Bangladesh Defeats England in 1st T20I Match
In a stunning upset, Bangladesh beat world champions England by six wickets in the first Twenty20 international in Chittagong. The home team put up a strong performance, led by Najmul Hossain, who hit a brisk 51 off 30 balls to guide Bangladesh to victory.
This match was their first-ever T20 victory over England, making it a historic moment for the cricket-crazy nation.
What Happened in the Match
The home team made a brisk start to their chase. Rony Talukdar, who returned after eight long years to play only his second game, scored a quick 21 off 14 balls. Then came Najmul, who went on to hit four straight boundaries against fast bowler Mark Wood. This score set the tone for the rest of the game.
Najmul batted from the fourth over to the 13th and brought up his third T20 fifty with a single from the bowling of offspinner Moeen Ali. He was eventually dismissed by Wood, but by then, he had already done the damage.
After Najmul’s departure, Shakib took over and guided the team to victory on a slow pitch. Despite losing a few wickets, the Bangladesh team didn’t panic and kept their cool throughout the game.
On the other hand, England, who were asked to bat first, got off to a good start with skipper Jos Buttler and Phil Salt forming an 80-run partnership. Buttler was the top scorer for England, scoring 67 off 42 balls with four fours and as many sixes.
But the team collapsed after Buttler’s dismissal and managed to score only 26 runs from the last powerplay.
Najmul Hossain, the hero of the day, smashed a 30-ball 51 to take Bangladesh to a six-wicket victory with two overs to spare. Captain Shakib Al Hasan also contributed to the win with an unbeaten 34 off 24 balls.
Post Match Statements
The Bangladesh skipper, Shakib, was pleased with his team’s performance and praised their approach to the game. “The way we approached the game was fantastic, can’t ask more from our team. When we were bowling, we were under the pump, but no one panicked,” he said.
England skipper Buttler admitted that his team was 20 runs short of a competitive total, saying, “We were probably 20 short with our score, and we had to chase a little bit in the field.”
Shakib’s success in the game can be attributed to his simple approach. “In T20, when you don’t think too much, you tend to play well,” he said. “Hopefully, we can keep this mindset in the dressing room.”
The win is a great boost for Bangladesh, who are looking to prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2024, which will be held in the West Indies. With this victory, the team has shown that they are capable of beating the best in the world, and will be looking to build on this momentum in the remaining two matches of the series.
The remaining two matches of the series will be played in Dhaka on March 12 and 14, and England will be looking to bounce back from this defeat.
