New-look Bangladesh stuns world champions England in impressive T20I victory

 

Bangladesh put up an impressive performance to take down England in the first T20I in Chattogram, beating the world champions by six wickets with two overs in hand. It was a rare victory for Bangladesh in T20Is, with the team showcasing a new-look side featuring players returning after long breaks and a debutant.

The win was set up by a strong bowling performance led by Hasan Mahmud, who bowled stingy death overs to restrict England to 156 for 6. England got off to a great start, with Jos Buttler leading the charge with eight boundaries, including four sixes, in his 42-ball stay. However, Hasan triggered a collapse in the final overs, picking up two wickets to bring Bangladesh back into the contest.

In the chase, Bangladesh got off to a strong start, outscoring England in the powerplay to reach 54 for 2. The home side's batters showed purpose in their approach, something that had been missing from their game for a long time. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy added 65 runs in just 6.3 overs, reminiscent of their recent exploits in the BPL, playing for Sylhet Strikers. Shanto made his third fifty in his last four innings, while Hridoy played aggressively during his 17-ball 24.

Captain Shakib Al Hasan and Afif Hossain then scored the remaining runs, an unbroken 46-run stand in 5.4 overs to complete the chase. Shakib remained unbeaten on 34, clattering six fours in his 24-ball stay. Afif made 15 with two fours, one of them a classic cover drive.

The win was a historic moment for Bangladesh cricket, as they rarely beat the world champions in T20Is. It was a new-look side that had stepped up to the occasion, showing promise for the future. With the series still to play, Bangladesh will be looking to carry this momentum forward and continue to impress.