File image of Bangladesh pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib.© X (Twitter)

Bangladesh stormed into the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup 2024, with a thumping victory over Nepal. Asked to bat first, Bangladesh had a terrible outing as they got bundled out for just 106 as Nepal’s entire bowling unit equally contributed. However in the second innings, the tables turned completely in the favour of Bangladesh as they bowled out Nepal for 85 and won the game by 21 runs. Nepal, who were already knocked out from the Super 8s race, now ended their T20 World Cup campaign with a humiliating defeat. 

On a lighter note, a wild celebration from a Nepal fan caught everyone’s attention. During Bangladesh’s innings, Nepal skipper Rohit Paudel dismissed Towhid Hridoy for 9, who was caught by Sandeep Lamichhane at short-fine leg. 

As Hridoy walked back to the dugout, the camera shifted towards the stands, where a Nepal fan could not hide his excitement and jumped into a pool to celebrate the wicket. 

Pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib‘s career-best figures of 4 for 7 with an astounding 21 dot balls headlined Bangladesh’s dominant bowling performance as they entered the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup.

Having nearly shocked South Africa in their previous game, Nepal bowlers were again on target, bowling out Bangladesh for 106 but Tanzim along with seasoned Shakib al Hasan (2/9) and Mustafzur Rahaman (3/7) bowled out Nepal for 85 in 19.2 overs.

Nepal were on course at 78 for 5 at one stage before losing their last five wickets for seven runs as a determined Bangladesh team used all its reservoir of experience after a disappointing batting show.

“As a bowling unit we bowled really well. We could have done better with bat. The top order could have batted tighter. Bangladesh bowled really well with the new ball. Losing 4 wickets in the powerplay put us under a lot of pressure. They were always challenging us, they bowled really well in the powerplay,” said skipper Paudel after the match. 

“As a batting unit we need to step up, we need to know where to score runs and how to assess conditions. We’re up to the mark with our bowling and fielding. This team has great potential, we need to back each and every player, I feel we will do very well in the next World Cup,” he added.

(With PTI Inputs)

T20 WC 2024: Bangladesh beat Nepal by 21 runs© X (Twitter)

Bangladesh vs Nepal, T20 World Cup 2024 LIVE Updates: Bangladesh Will Seal Super 8 Spot With Win© X (Twitter)

Match 37 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2024 has Bangladesh taking on Nepal at the Arnos Vale Ground, Arnos Vale, St Vincent on Monday (IST). Bangladesh have played 3 matches in the series and they are currently ranked second on the points table, while Nepal have played 2 matches in the series and they are currently ranked fourth on the points table. Both teams last played against each other in Match 6 of the ICC World T20, 2014 where Shakib Al Hasan scored the highest fantasy points for Bangladesh with 62 match fantasy points while Paras Khadka topped the fantasy points leaderboard for Nepal with 50 match fantasy points.

In the last match played by Bangladesh against the Netherlands, Bangladesh beat the Dutch by 25 runs. The top fantasy player for Bangladesh was Rishad Hossain who scored 91 fantasy points.

In their last match in this series against South Africa, South Africa beat Nepal by 1 run. The top fantasy player for Nepal was Kushal Bhurtel who scored 140 fantasy points.

Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

The pitch at the Arnos Vale Ground, Arnos Vale, St Vincent is balanced. The average 1st innings score at this venue in the last 20 matches is 106 runs.

Weather Report

Temperature is expected to be around 26.85 degree Celsius with 79% humidity. Winds at a speed of 4.06 m/s are expected.

Pace or Spin?

The venue is suited for both Pacers and Spinners alike.

Fantasy Prediction: Top Captain and Vice-Captain Picks

Shakib Al Hasan (BAN)

Shakib Al Hasan is an all-rounder with an average of 43 match fantasy points in the last 10 games, a fantasy rating of 8.8 and is a fairly consistent player in terms of fantasy points. The experienced left-hander has scored 75 runs in the last three matches.

Sagar Dhakal (NEP)

Sagar Dhakal is a bowler with an average of 51 match fantasy points in the last 4 games, a fantasy rating of 8.7 and is a fairly consistent player in terms of fantasy points. The slow left-arm orthodox bowler has taken four wickets at an average of 15 in the recent three matches.

Mustafizur Rahman (BAN)

Mustafizur Rahman is a bowler with an average of 59 match fantasy points in the last 10 games, a fantasy rating of 8.5 and is a differential player for your Fantasy Team. Mustafizur bowls left-arm fast medium and has taken 10 wickets in the recently played five matches.

Dipendra Singh Airee (NEP)

Dipendra Singh Airee is a good-to-have player for your Fantasy Team. He has an average of 46 match fantasy points in the last 10 games and a fantasy rating of 8.4. Airee bats right-handed and has scored 12 runs in the recent three matches. He can also give you some bowling fantasy points, bowling off break and in the recent matches has taken four wickets.

Taskin Ahmed (BAN)

Taskin Ahmed is a fast bowler with an average of 62 match fantasy points in the last 10 games, a fantasy rating of 8.3 and can be a good safe pick for your Fantasy Team. Taskin bowls right-arm fast and in recent five matches, he has taken eight wickets.

Fantasy Team

Wicket-Keeper: Jaker Ali

Batters: Tanzid Hasan, Kushal Bhurtel and Kushal Malla

All-Rounders: Shakib Al Hasan, Dipendra Singh Airee, Rishad Hossain and Gulshan Jha

Bowlers: Sagar Dhakal, Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed

Captain: Jaker Ali

Vice-Captain: Mustafizur Rahman

Nepal’s dream of entering the T20 World Cup 2024, Super 8s stage, shattered after they lost against South Africa in a nail-biting thriller. Opting to bowl first, Nepal restricted the Proteas to 115/7 in 20 overs with Kushal Bhurtel scalping four wickets. Later in the chase, Nepal always had an upper hand as their batters stitched good partnerships. However, it was spinner Tabraiz Shamsi‘s deadly spell of 4/19, which completely changed the result of the game as the Proteas sealed victory on the very last ball.

On the last ball of the match, Nepal needed 2 runs to win. Batter Gulshan Jha failed to connect the bat with Ottneil Baartman’s delivery as the ball went straight to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who threw it towards Heinrich Klaasen on time, resulting in Nepal batter’s run out. 

As the celebrations began in South Africa’s camp, Gulshan Jha sat in disbelief after the loss. His teammate Sompal Kami tried to console him but Jha, who got teary eyed, took some moments and then walked away to the dugout.

Nepalese players crying……!!!!

– This is the youngest team in this world cup, they put up a great performance against South Africa but very sadly lost by just 1 run. Nepal has won our hearts…..#SAvNep#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/B1YqreD0Q0

— Khal!D ‌ (@bd71khalid) June 15, 2024 

Needing eight runs off the final over in pursuit of a modest target of 116 for a stunning upset win, the Nepalese fell agonisingly short at 114 for seven with Gulshan Jha run out off the final ball as he attempted a single off Ottneil Baartman to force a super over.

“Very grateful to have got the win. Don’t think we were anywhere near our best tonight. For large parts, don’t think we thought we’d be on the right side of that as well. Lot of learnings for us. We’ve got a really good pace attack and you have to back that. We spoke about coming in with energy and see if there was anything in the wicket,” said South Africa skipper Aiden Markram after the win. 

“They (Nepal) bowled really well and made it tough for us. They put us under a lot of pressure and it shows the quality they have. Mix that with a lack of conviction in our dressing room so there’s a lot of learnings for us. It’s about backing the players we’ve developed and going forward with that,” he added. 

South Africa pulled-off a stunning one-run victory over Nepal in their T20 World Cup 2024, Group D match on Saturday (IST). The Proteas will now march into the Super 8s with a flawless run as they registered victories in all of their group stage matches. In the match against Nepal, South Africa were the verge of defeat as Rohit Paudel and co were comfortably moving ahead in the chase of 116. However, spinner Tabraiz Shamsi‘s four-wicket changed the momentum of the game in the favour of the Proteas as they snatched victory from Nepal on the last ball.

With this loss, Nepal got eliminated from the Super 8s race. Their exit sent social media into a meltdown as many fans were left heartbroken. Even former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar and famous VJ Nikhil Chinapa also lauded Nepal for their performance.

Nepal is the team to watch in the next 10 years!

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) June 15, 2024

Come on Nepal. What a game! The youngest team in the tournament. You have my respect and admiration. #NEPvSA #T20WorldCup

— Nikhil Chinapa (@nikhilchinapa) June 15, 2024

Nepal were just 1 run short.

– Players and fans in tears after such a heartbreak. pic.twitter.com/n66cYmnoXr

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 15, 2024

Heart Breaking moment when Nepal lost by just 1 run vs South Africa as Gulsan Jha was runout by the barest of margin. #NEPvSA #NEPvsSA #SAvNEP #SAvsNEPpic.twitter.com/ZOqtuxP5VK

— Abdullah Neaz(@cric___guy) June 15, 2024

Heartbroken for Nepal

SA beat nepal by just 1 run#SAvsNEP #T20WorldCup #Nepal #NEPvsSA pic.twitter.com/bK0W1ZXmBw

— rebanta pandey (@Jitu172) June 15, 2024

What a game it was! Nepal lost by a very small margin, by one run! The players performed very well and this day has been recorded in golden letters in the history of Nepal cricket.#NEPvsSA #Nepal pic.twitter.com/tAfrZcyn2A

— Dushyant Kumar (@DushyantKrRawat) June 15, 2024

Needing eight runs off the final over in pursuit of a modest target of 116 for a stunning upset win, the Nepalese fell agonisingly short at 114 for seven with Gulshan Jha run out off the final ball as he attempted a single off Ottneil Baartman to force a super over.

After leg-break bowler Kushal Bhurtel (4 for 19) and off-spinner Dipendra Singh Airee (3 for 21) limited the Proteas to 115 for seven batting first, Aasif Sheikh (42) and Anil Sah (27) featured in a 50-run third-wicket partnership which pulled the Nepalese within touching distance of a result which would have kept their hopes alive of getting to the Super Eight phase of the tournament.

“Very proud of the unit, especially the way we bowled and batted. We saw the wicket yesterday and thought it will be on the slower side. We saw that it helped spinners and thats when we introduced Kushal Bhurtel and carried on with the spinners,” said Nepal skipper Paudel after the loss.

“We were so close yet a little far. We didnt do well in the crunch moments but we fought very well. Well be on the other side next time if we play teams like this more often. I want to thank the fans for supporting us. We are very grateful to them,” he added.

(With AFP Inputs)

Nepal will kick off their Asian Games campaign against Singapore on September 19.© X (Twitter)