Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Year : 2, Issue : 21
Sports Desk: The USA provided a harsh reality check to Bangladesh right before the ICC T20 World Cup, handing the Tigers a five-wicket defeat in the first T20I of a three-match series at the Prairie View Cricket Complex on Tuesday.
Harmeet Singh hit a terrific 13-ball 33 while former Kiwi all-rounder Corey Anderson remained unbeaten on a 25-ball 34 as the USA sailed to 156-5 in 19.3 overs, to register their first ever win over a Test nation.
Earlier, Bangladesh had posted 153-6 with Towhid Hridoy top scoring with 58 off 47 balls.
Bangladesh were seemingly in control of the match till the 16th over of the USA innings thanks to their bowlers, as the USA were reduced to 99-5, needing 55 runs to win in 24 balls.
Harmeet then began his onslaught, first hitting Mustafizur Rahman for consecutive sixes in the 17th over to take 17 off it and then hitting a six and a four each in the following over from Shoriful to bring the required runs to 24 off 12 balls.
Anderson joined the party in the penultimate over, hitting a six off Mustafizur, which left Mahmudullah only nine runs to defend in the 20th,
Any hopes of seeking out a victory disappeared after Anderson hit a maximum off the first ball of the final over, and Harmeet deservingly hit the final runs, with a four through extra cover. This was the first ever T20I between the two sides. The second match of the series will be played at the same venue on May 23.
