T20 World Cup
The Netherlands chose to bowl first and did well to restrict Bangladesh to 144 for eight on a gloomy day
MELBOURNE
Bangladesh paceman Taskin Ahmed took four wickets as they kicked off their T20 World Cup with a laboured nine-run win over the Netherlands in Hobart on Monday.
The Netherlands chose to bowl first and did well to restrict Bangladesh to 144 for eight on a gloomy day at Bellerive Oval.
Paul van Meekeren (24) and Fred Klaassen (seven not out) produced a gallant 34-run partnership for the final wicket and slogged the Netherlands to within 12 runs of victory with two balls to spare.
But Van Meekeren was unable to clear the rope off Soumya Sarkar’s penultimate ball, sealing Bangladesh’s first win in the second round of a T20 World Cup in 17 attempts.
Man-of-the-match Taskin ensured the Netherlands’ chase got off to a dreadful start as he removed opener Vikramjit Singh and number three Bas de Leede with the first two balls of the innings.
A defiant half-century from all-rounder Colin Ackermann (62) kept Netherlands in the game but Taskin dismissed the number four in a two-wicket burst in the 17th over.
Bangladesh play South Africa in their next Super 12 match in Sydney on Thursday, while the Netherlands face India.
South Africa in dismay as opening fixture washed away
South Africans were frustrated Monday as their opening World Cup fixture against Zimbabwe ended without any result at Bellerive Oval, Hobart.
Restricted to only 9 overs per side, the match was heavily affected by rain even before its start, and again the heavy showers interrupted play when South Africans were marginally away from their victory.
Batting first, the Zimbabweans scored 79-5 from their allotted quota of overs. Wesley Madhevere remained top scorer with handy 35 (18).
In reply, South Africans were cruising along to their target when rain washed their dreams off. They were 51-0 from opening three overs, thanks to Quinton de Cock’s ‘lathy charge’ as he ended 47* (18). Eventually, rain had the final say and the game was called off.
The result could be a major dent to Protease’ Semi Final hopes as all of their remaining games now are a must win for them. Zimbabwe on the other hand will be happier side since their World Cup campaign has started without a defeat, even from a deteriorating postion.
