KATHMANDU: Nepal faced a 21-run defeat against Bangladesh in their final match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, resulting in Bangladesh's qualification for the Super Eights stage. Bangladesh batted first, setting a target of 107 runs, scoring 106 runs in 19.3 overs. Despite impressive performances from Nepal’s bowlers, including Sompal Kami, Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Lamichhane, and Rohit Kumar Paudel, who each took two wickets, Bangladesh managed to reach a low total. During the innings, two Bangladeshi batters were also run out.
Bangladesh's top scorer, Shakib Al Hasan, finished first on the scoreboard with 17 runs, followed by Mohammadullah, who scored 13 runs off 13 balls and hit two boundaries, and Rishad Hossain, who scored 13 runs off 7 balls and struck one four and one six. Along with Ali (12 runs off 26 balls), Taskin Ahmed (12 runs), and opener Litton Das (10 runs), there were other noteworthy efforts. Sandeep Lamichhane reached a significant milestone during the match by taking his 100th wicket in T20 Internationals, bowling 4 overs and conceding only 17 runs while taking two crucial wickets.
In the second innings, Nepal struggled with the bat, getting bowled out for 85 runs in 19.2 overs, failing to chase down the target set by Bangladesh. Despite efforts from Kushal Malla, who contributed the highest with 27 runs, and Dipendra Singh Airee and Aasif Sheikh, who added 25 and 17 runs, respectively, Nepal's batting lineup faltered. Five of the Nepali batsmen lost wickets for ducks, while no other batsman reached double digits.
Bangladesh successfully defended the lowest total in the T20 World Cup, thanks to an excellent bowling performance. Mustafizur Rahman claimed three wickets, and Tanzim Hasan Sakib claimed four while giving up just seven runs. Shakib Al Hasan and Taskin Ahmed also made significant contributions to the bowling effort, taking two and one wicket, respectively. Despite the loss, Nepal showcased resilience in their bowling attack and will look to bounce back in future matches.
