The Bangladesh cricket team clinched a surprise T20I series win over England, after losing the ODI series 1-2. The victory was particularly impressive given that Bangladesh usually perform best in the ODI format.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz played a crucial role in the win, taking 4-12 in his four overs to help spark England’s second collapse in the innings. He also contributed with the bat, hitting a couple of sixes in a 16-ball 20 after being promoted to No 5. Najmul Hossain Shanto remained unbeaten on 46 off 47 balls, while Taskin Ahmed hit the winning runs with two fours in the penultimate over.
The win was significant for Bangladesh as it marked their first bilateral T20I series victory over England and their first series win (minimum of three matches played) in two-and-a-half years. It also ended England’s successful run in the format, having won the T20 World Cup and bilateral series against Australia and Pakistan in the previous year.
England made a strong start, reaching 50 for 1 in seven overs, before Phil Salt was dismissed by Shakib Al Hasan, who proved to be a key bowler for Bangladesh throughout the series. The wicket triggered a middle-order collapse for England, with Hasan Mahmud removing Jos Buttler for a quickfire 67 in the next over. Mehidy Hasan Miraz then claimed three quick wickets, as England lost three wickets in the space of 16 balls.
Sam Curran and Ben Duckett added 34 runs for the fifth wicket, but Mehidy’s triple-strike sent England into free fall, reducing them to 100 for 7 in 17 balls. The remaining three wickets fell in the last over, with Duckett caught by Shanto and Rehan Ahmed and Jofra Archer run out off the last two balls of the innings.
Despite a few hiccups, Bangladesh successfully chased down the target, with Shanto providing a calming influence in the final partnership with Taskin. Curran, Rehan, and Archer took wickets for England, but it wasn’t enough to stop Bangladesh from sealing the series win.
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