Bangladesh's quest for glory in the ongoing T20 World Cup hit a bump in the road on Friday as they were soundly outplayed by a dominant Australian outfit in their Super Eights opener at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
The Tigers succumbed to a 28-run defeat by the DLS method, leaving skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto with a bitter taste of defeat and a yearning for a more substantial batting display.
Restricted to a meagre 140 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs, Bangladesh's batting woes were laid bare. While Shanto, the national captain, top-scored with a valiant 41 off 36 deliveries, it was a case of too little, too late. Reflecting on the match at the post-match presentation, Shanto expressed his disappointment: "The wicket looked good, a touch on the slow side, but in my estimation, we should have posted a total closer to 170."
This knock provided a much-needed respite for Shanto, who had previously endured a lean patch in the shortest format, mustering only 26 runs in the preceding games of the tournament. "It's certainly a pleasure to shoulder responsibility, and I relish that role. So far, I've been performing adequately, and I fervently hope to contribute further," he declared with a resolute voice.
Bangladesh's innings started on a shaky note, losing their opener Tanzid Tamim in the very first over. However, they managed to stitch together a semblance of a partnership, reaching 39 for the solitary wicket lost during the Powerplay. In-form batsman Towhid Hridoy looked threatening with a quickfire 40 off 28 deliveries before becoming the final victim of Pat Cummins' spectacular hat-trick in the final over.
Unfortunately, the Bangladeshi batting faltered in the latter stages. The good batting surface was rendered less forgiving as the Australian bowlers tightened their grip, making scoring considerably more challenging for the Tigers. Furthermore, the gamble of promoting Rishad Hossain, a young batsman known for his rapid scoring, to number four backfired spectacularly. He failed to make a significant impact with the willow today.
Shanto acknowledged the necessity for calculated risks when facing a formidable opponent like Australia. "Against a team of this calibre, a certain degree of risk-taking is imperative. Today, Rishad's promotion to number four was intended to counter the spinners. He possesses the power to hit big, but it wasn't his day," Shanto admitted.
With their net run-rate taking a significant hit after this convincing defeat (currently -2.471 and languishing at the bottom of Group 1), Bangladesh now face a daunting task in their next encounter – a clash against India at the very same venue within the next 48 hours. Shanto, however, remains optimistic: "It's crucial for the top order to fire and contribute runs like we did today. That's a significant confidence booster. Hopefully, the bowlers will maintain their form, and we're looking forward to a much better showing against India in our forthcoming match."
Bangladesh's quest for redemption continues, and their upcoming clash against India will be a true test of their resilience and ability to bounce back from this setback.
