Taskin Ahmed’s fiery bowling left the Dutch rattled. By removing both openers early, the Bangladeshi speedster pushed them onto the back foot. The visitors never really recovered from that early blow and were restricted to just 136 runs for 8 wickets in their 20 overs.
In the first T20 of the three-match series at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Bangladesh won the toss and sent the Netherlands in to bat. The Bangladeshi pacers justified their captain’s decision with disciplined bowling in the powerplay.
Although opener Max O’Dowd initially gave the Dutch a promising start—hitting Shoriful Islam for three fours in one over and launching Sheikh Mehedi for a massive six—his innings was cut short in the fourth over. Taskin Ahmed, bowling on middle and leg stump, forced O’Dowd into a mistimed shot that was caught by Zakir Ali at short cover. O’Dowd’s brisk knock ended at 23 runs.
Soon after, Taskin struck again to remove the other opener, Vikramjit Singh (4). Attempting to loft a short-length delivery, Singh failed to clear Parvez Hossain Emon at long-on.
Losing both openers for just 38 runs, skipper Scott Edwards tried to steady the innings alongside Teja Nidamanuru. Together they added 28 runs off 15 balls for the third wicket and seemed to have weathered the early storm.
But after nearly two years away from the T20I side, Saif Hassan’s magic was yet to unfold. Handed the ball in the 10th over by Liton Das, he dismissed both Edwards (12) and Nidamanuru (26) in quick succession.
Following Saif’s double strike, the Dutch batting lost its way completely. Saif went on to pick up two more wickets in his remaining overs, finishing with brilliant figures of 4 wickets for 28 runs in his 4-over spell, making him Bangladesh’s standout performer with the ball. Mustafizur Rahman chipped in with a wicket as well.
