On the first day of ICC T20 World Cup 2021, the cricketing world witnessed a shocker of a match as Mahmudullah-led Bangladesh were beaten in their first game by Scotland. The in-form Bangladesh who had beaten big teams like Australia and New Zealand at home by 4-1 and 3-2 succumbed to a six-run defeat at the hands of a team that was considered minnows. Chris Greaves was adjudged player of the match for his all-round performance including a 45-run knock and two wickets with the ball.
This is Scotland’s first win over Bangladesh in the format. The two sides had faced each other only once in 2012 when Bangladesh had registered a 34-run win.
Bangladesh top-order fails
Bangladesh openers lost their wickets in the powerplay overs increasing the pressure in a low-scoring run chase. Liton Das and Soumya Sarkar scored five runs each. The two early wickets pushed Bangladesh on the back foot as Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim had to do damage control in the powerplay overs instead of taking on Scottish bowlers.
No finisher at the end
Senior players Mushfiqur Rahim (38) and Mahmudullah (23) got good starts but left the run chase in disarray leaving too much to chase in the end. Afif Hossain (18) too played a few shots to help the run chase back on track but left the crease with 15 balls to go. Scoring 24 runs off the last ball was too big a task for tailender Mahedi Hasan who remained unbeaten for a five-ball 13.
Scotland suffer batting collapse
Scotland did not get off to an ideal start after Bangladesh chose to bowl first. They lost skipper Kyle Coetzer for a seven-ball duck and wicketkeeper-batter struggled to rotate the strike or find boundaries in powerplay overs. Opener George Munsey was looking good on the crease playing a few good shots but could not capitalise on it getting knocked over by Mahedi. Shakib and Mahedi rushed through the middle-order as they were reduced to 53/6 in 12th over.
Greaves’ cameo brings Scotland back in game
With six wickets down in 12th over, Scotland needed a push to post a fighting total. Chris Greaves infused life into Scotland’s inning with his unorthodox hitting and shared a crucial 51-run partnership for the seventh wicket from just 34 deliveries. Greaves got out in the last over but contributed with a timely 28-ball 45 including four fours and two sixes. He took on Taskin Ahmed and Saifuddin in death overs to help his team post 140/9.
Shakib’s record-breaking spell
Shakib took two wickets for 17 runs and became the leading wicket-taker in T20I cricket with 108 wickets to his name from 89 matches. He surpassed former Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who took 107 wickets from 84 before calling it quits to international cricket.
