USA v BAN: Bangladesh lose T20I series as USA make a mark ahead of World Cup
USA shocked a full-strength Bangladesh side for the second successive time in a 3-match T20I series in Houston to script history.
The Asian side were handed a major wake-up call ahead of the T20 World Cup by the USA, who punched above their weight to take a 2-0 unbeatable lead in the series. Bangladesh were bowled out for 138 in 19.3 overs as they fell short of a 145-run target at the Prairie View Cricket Complex.
Former KKR fast bowler Ali Khan was the star of the show as he picked up 3 wickets, including that of Shakib Al Hasan, to help USA clinch a historic series win — their first against a Test-playing nation in T20 cricket. The win comes as a huge boost to the USA national team ahead of the T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies from June 1.
After chasing down a 154-run target with relative ease in the first T20I on Tuesday, May 21, the USA team approached the second T20I with a lot of confidence. It showed in their body language as they were pumped up, especially while defending the total on a sluggish pitch in Houston.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl, Bangladesh’s new ball bowlers struggled to dislodge the USA openers. Captain Monak Patel and Steven Taylor kept the scoreboard moving with a 44-run partnership that came in 39 balls on a pitch that was a bit two-paced.
Monak Patel’s knock proved decisive despite the lack of fireworks as the skipper assessed the conditions well and helped USA post a par total on the board. Aaron Jones chipped in with a crucial 35 in a 60-run stand for the third wicket with the skipper.
The heroes of the first T20I victory Corey Anderson and Harmeet Singh failed to fire on Thursday, but USA added 40 runs in the last four overs, thanks to some late-order hitting from Nitin Kumar and van Schalkwyk.
VERY DISAPPOINTING RESULT: SHANTO
“This result is very disappointing. But we have an opportunity to come back in the third game and win before the T20 World Cup. It’s not about the skill, we need to change our mindset,” Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was solid at the top along with Tanzid Hasan despite the visitors losing Soumya Sarkar for 0 in the first over of their chase. However, the middle-order chipped in as the likes of Towhid Hridoy and Shakib Al Hasan came up with handy contributions.
Shakib was in the middle even as there was a bit of panic in the middle-overs, hitting a six and a four to bring the asking rate under control in the 16th over.
However, Ali Khan’s double-wicket over changed the match on its head. He first got the wicket of Shakib, who dragged one onto the stumps. In the same over, Ali Khan bowled a yorker that tailed in and got Tanzim Hasan Sakib LBW.
Bangladesh went from 124 for 5 to 138-all out, slipping to one of their worst defeats in T20I history.
The two teams will meet in the third and final T20I in Houston on Saturday.