Netherlands vs Bangladesh ICC T20I: Litton’s unbeaten 50 wins opening clash

SYLHET: The unbeaten half century of the home team captain Litton Das remained standout in the Saturday’s opening match victory of the Bangladesh T20I series against Netherlands in Sylhet.

Litton captained team ensured in the very beginning to maintain the momentum of their victories claimed by his side in their games played earlier against Sri Lanka (2-1) and Pakistan (2-1).

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The Bangladesh team began chasing a modest target of 137-8 posted by Netherlands by sending Parvez Hossain and Tanzid Hasan in the opening. The seasoned batters went into the ground with a hope to accomplish the rivals’ target with no loss of any wickets. Albeit their partnership only continued for a total of 44-run, they already established hopes on pitch by playing well for their side. Both Hossain and Hasan contributed 15 and 29, respectively.

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Captain Litton and Saif Hassan appeared on pitch after the opening line-up were downed and carried on the momentum by staying at crease.

Litton and Hassan undefeated 54 and 36-run took the total-chase up to 134-2. Thanks to the four extras by rivals that got the opening clash victory to the Bangladesh Eleven.

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The home team had still got a bunch of players to clash. Those who did not bat were: Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam and Rishad Hossain

Netherlands XI performance

Max O’Dowd and Vikramjit Singh, the opening two batter of the Scott Edwards-led team, appeared on pitch but only managed 23 and 4 runs each respectively as both of them were downed by pacer Taskin Ahmad.

Teja Nidamanduru and Scott Edwards (captain) came to make some difference but their partnership couldn’t guide their team to a big score following their dismissal by seasoned campaigner Saif Hassan. The pair had only scored 26 and 12 each before being bowled out.

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The 4th-down Shariz Ahmad also came under pressure as soon as he faced the seasoned bowlers and was unfortunately dismissed for 15 by Mustafizur Rahman, leaving the Netherlands in struggle at 80/5.

Noah Croes and Kyle Klein, of whom the team were expecting to be well guiding their side scoring, also couldn’t make any difference. Both were targeted by Taskin after scoring 11 and 9 each respectively. They hardly led their side runs up to a hundred-seven.

There appeared Tim Pringle (16-run out) and Aryan Dutt (13-not out) in the last overs of the clash. The pair elevated their side’s score only up to 129. Thanks to 7 extras by home pacers that helped the Netherlands to post a target of 137-run from 8 wickets.

Head Coach Phil Simmons’ remarks

Head coach Phil Simmons has stated that the team will aim to maintain the momentum of their outstanding victories against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Coach Simmons said, “I’m for us to continue the levels that we’ve set in Sri Lanka,” adding that “Take away a little bit from Mirpur, I don’t think the wicket was as good as Sri Lanka. But the standards we set in Sri Lanka, that’s what we’re looking to continue.”