ICC World T20: Bangladesh beat Netherlands in close contest

Tamim Iqbal hits unbeaten 83

Netherlands' Ben Cooper is bowled by Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan during the ICC World T20 on Wednesday. (AP)

 

 

DHARAMSALA: Bangladesh defeated the Netherlands by eight runs in a Group A first-round match at the World Twenty20 on Wednesday.

Coming off a fine run to the Asia Cup final last weekend, Bangladesh was favorite to qualify for the Super 10 stage from Group A which also includes Ireland, which elected to bat after winning the toss against Oman, in the second match.

Left-handed opening batsman Tamim Iqbal hit a brisk unbeaten 83 from 58 balls, including six fours and three sixes, as Bangladesh put up 153-7. The Netherlands was restricted to 145-7, with Al-Amin Hossain and the experienced Shakib Al Hasan sharing two wickets each.

Netherlands captain Peter Borren and Stephan Myburgh were joint top-scorers with 29 runs each, but Bangladesh struck at regular intervals to keep the pressure on.

After losing the toss, Bangladesh needed Iqbal's brilliance against some decent Netherlands bowling. Iqbal shared a 42-run second-wicket stand with Sabbir Rahman (15) before Timm van der Gugten (3-21) pegged back Bangladesh to 112-5 by clean bowling Mahmudullah (10) and Mushfiqur Rahim (0) in the space of three deliveries.

Iqbal and Sunny Arafat hit a six each to collect 15 runs in the last over off medium pacer Logan van Beek, who returned 0-43.

"I've been talking to my coaches and been calm in the middle," Iqbal said. "They bowled a decent line and length and the wicket wasn't the easiest."

Netherlands pushed too late to have a shot at the target as Borren top-edged Al Hasan in the 16th over to leave his team requiring 42 off the last four overs.

"Right in the end of our bowling and batting innings, it got away from us," Borren said.

BRIEF SCORES

Bangladesh: 153 for 7 in 20 overs (Tamim Iqbal 83 not out; Timm van der Gugten 3-21, Paul van Meekeren 2-17)

Netherlands: 145 for 7 in 20 overs (Stephan Myburgh 29, Peter Borren 29; Al-Amin Hossain 2-24; Shakib Al Hasan 2-28)

Bangladesh beat Netherlands by 8 runs.