Tanzim Hasan Shakib picked up four wickets as Bangladesh outclassed Nepal by 21 runs in a low-scoring Group D contest to advance to the Super 8 of the T20 World Cup, in St. Vincent on Monday.
After being bowled out for 106, Bangladesh staged a great comeback with the ball to send Nepal packing for 85.
The victory put Bangladesh in Group 1 of the Super 8s with India, Australia and Afghanistan.
21-year-old pacer Tanzim destroyed Nepal’s batting line-up with sensational figures of 4/7 in four overs, including two maidens. The 22-year-old had 21 dot balls during his spell — the most by any bowler in a T20 World Cup match.
The experienced Mustafizur Rahman played his part with 3/7 in four overs, with 20 dot balls, while spinner Shakib Al Hasan claimed 2/9.
Earlier, Nepal’s bowlers turned in a brilliant display to shoot out Bangladesh for a paltry 106 in 19.3 overs.
Sompal Kami (2/10), Dipendra Singh Airee (2/22), Rohit Paudel (2/20) and Sandeep Lamichhane (2/17) took two wickets each as Bangladesh were dismissed for their lowest total against an associate nation in T20 World Cups.
In the process, Lamichhane completed 100 wickets in T20 Internationals.
Shakib Al Hasan (17), Mahmudullah (13), Rishad Hossain (13), Taskin Ahmed (12 not out) and Litton Das (10) were the notable contributors for Bangladesh rummybo.
With four points, Bangladesh are looking to join South Africa in the Super 8 stage, but Nepal, eager to finish their campaign on a high, could not have started any better.
Kami dismissed Tanzid Hasan caught and bowled with the first delivery of the match.
Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was out bowled in the second over, causing even more despair for Bangladesh.
Nepal then picked up wickets in the fifth and sixth over to cap off a dominant Powerplay, having the Tigers reeling at 31 for 4 at the six-over mark.
Bangladesh attempted an innings rehabilitation with the field more spread out and worked their way past 50. But the crucial dismissal of Mahmudullah (13 off 13) had them on the ropes, after a miscommunication caused a frustrating run out.
The Tigers were 57 for 5 at drinks, needing a huge few overs to get back into the contest.
Right arm off-spinner Paudel could smell blood, though, and produced a sharp-turning ball to trap the other danger man, Shakib Al Hasan (17 off 22), out LBW.
Things went from bad to worse for Bangladesh, as Lamichhane stepped into prominence with two huge wickets that also gave the 23-year-old leg break bowler a memorable slice of history.
His second dismissal, removing Jaker Ali, was his 100th T20 International wicket, in his 54th match rummy bo.
The final blow came in the 20th over, with Paudel executing a run-out to have Bangladesh all out for 106.