Tamim Iqbal‘s unbeaten 83 set the platform for Bangladesh’s eight-run victory over the Netherlands in their ICC World Twenty20 opener in Dharamsala.
Bangladesh went into the Group A match in good form having reached the Asia Cup final but they were indebted to Iqbal’s contribution in a total of 153 for seven.
The Netherlands had a sniff of victory with 83 needed from the final 10 overs with eight wickets in hand, but their chances ended with the departure of captain Peter Borren for 29.
Borren’s men made an early breakthrough after winning the toss and putting Bangladesh in, with Paul van Meekeren having Soumya Sarkar caught behind.
Iqbal and Sabbir Rahman laid a solid foundation for Bangladesh but the Netherlands never allowed them to get away.
Van Meekeren finished with impressive figures of 2-17 while Timm van der Gugten claimed 3-21.
Crucially, though, Iqbal batted through the innings, hitting six fours and three sixes in a 58-ball 83 to get his side up to a competitive total, with none of his team-mates passing 15.
The Netherlands lost Wesley Barresi in the powerplay but Stephan Myburgh and Ben Cooper steadied the innings with 29 and 20 respectively before Borren continued the good work.
They needed 54 from the final five overs but Borren’s dismissal to the last ball of Shakib Al Hasan’s spell left the Netherlands with too much to do.
Mudassar Bukhari and Pieter Seelaar gave their team hope by taking 16 from the 19th over but with 17 needed from the last, Taskin Ahmed held his nerve to leave the Netherlands short on 145 for seven.
Source: ECB