Rishad took the game away from Netherlands: Shakib on Bangladesh win

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jun 14, 2024 00:07 IST

Star Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan was happy after contributing with the bat in his side's 25-run win over the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup match on Thursday. Shakib added that Bangladesh spinner Rishad Hossain took the game away from the Netherlands in the World Cup with his sensational three-wicket haul. Shakib played an unbeaten 64-run knock to help Bangladesh post a competitive total of 159 for 5 in their must-win clash against the Netherlands, who managed to score just 134 runs for 8 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Taskin Ahmed and Tanzim Hasan Sakib gave the team a strong start by dismissing both Netherlands' openers early. Mahmudullah's lone over also proved crucial as he took an important wicket. However, it was Rishad Hossain who truly made the difference. Despite some initial hits, Rishad maintained his composure and delivered a match-winning performance by taking three key wickets, including the dangerous Sybrand Engelbrecht. Mustafizur Rahman was exceptional, conceding just 12 runs in his spell and claiming one wicket.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan emphasized the importance of a top-order batsman anchoring the innings. "It was important for someone from the top four to bat throughout the innings. Happy with the way I contributed with the bat. It wasn't an easy wicket at the start of the innings. We held our nerves, put on a decent total. I won't say it was a winning total, it was a challenging total," he stated.

Reflecting on the uncertainty surrounding the pitch conditions due to the lack of recent international matches, Shakib added, "Hardly any international game has been played in the last 4-5 years, so we didn't know what's a good score. That's why we had to keep our wickets in hand and see where we are, maybe 14-15th over and then decide how far we can go. It was a decent total, we put the runs on the board."

Shakib lauded the overall team effort and the bowlers' contribution, highlighting their collective impact on the victory. "Credit should go to all the bowlers," he remarked, underscoring the teamwork that led Bangladesh to defend a tricky total successfully.

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