MUSCAT: Scotland upset Bangladesh after a thrilling clash at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Muscat, in the second match of the opening day of the T20 World Cup.
Chasing a moderate target of 141 runs, Bangladesh could only score 134 for 7 wickets at the end of the 20 overs of the second innings. Bowler Chris Greaves was given the “Man of the Match”.
At the beginning of the match, the captain of the Bangladesh cricket team, Mahmudullah, won the toss and opted to bowl first. Bangladesh looked set to restrict Scotland to a low total with the batting side losing six wickets for just 53 runs on board.
Scotland prevail ????
They register 6-run victory against Bangladesh to start their #T20WorldCup 2021 campaign with a bang!#BANvSCO | https://t.co/zPRN3SpDCs pic.twitter.com/ZePhjSAeJm
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 17, 2021
However, Chris Greaves and Mark Watt added 51 runs from 34 balls for the seventh wicket to bring Scotland back in the game. Greaves top-scored with 45 runs off 28 balls, while Watt scored 22 runs off 17 balls.
Opener George Munsey chipped in with 29 runs off 23 balls. For Bangladesh, spinner Mahedi Hasan was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/19 in four overs.
Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan bagged figures of 2/17 in four overs, which also helped him become the top wicket-taker, 108 scalps, in Men’s T20I cricket.
Prior to the match, Bangladesh skipper Mahmudullah had said: “This is a good wicket and more runs can be scored here, but we want to chase the target because of the dew at night.”
On the other hand, Scottish captain Kyle Kotzer said: “We are happy to bat first. If you give a good target, you can put more pressure in the second innings. There is dew but we have to deal with it.”
It should be recalled that earlier in the day, in the opening match of the T20 World Cup, host Oman had defeated Papua New Guinea by 10 wickets.
