Bangladesh’s men are not famous for reeling in tall Twenty20 targets, especially at home. On Monday evening, however, a side that usually goes into its shell after a slow start rattled up 183 with a full 12 balls to spare – their quickest final-ten-over dash in a successful chase.
The asking rate had ballooned beyond ten an over by the time Tanzid Hasan’s mis-hit found deep cover. Bangladesh were plodding along at 7.70 and, on most days, that is cue for panic. Instead, Tawhid Hridoy, Parvez Hossain Emon and Shamim Hossain combined for 110 runs off 54 deliveries, striking 13 boundaries and shifting the mood inside the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.
“You might get the occasional half-century batting at No. 5 or 6. If you see someone getting a fifty from that position, you will figure out that the team is on the back foot, as we must have lost three or four early wickets,” Hridoy said. “Having said that, I thought Shamim and Emon played the type of innings that was as good as scoring fifties.”
Hridoy’s unbeaten 51 came from only 27 balls, yet he was at pains to share the credit. Parvez blasted a run-a-ball 28 and Shamim belted 31 from 17, the pair dismantling Ish Sodhi and Nathan Smith in successive overs to flip the contest. Sodhi, who had removed Tanzid with his first delivery, was taken for 18 in the same over as Parvez clubbed him for four and six.
“It is important to understand the importance of such impactful innings. We are also guilty of thinking about fifties and hundreds, but sometimes even an innings of ten runs can have an impact in a T20 match. The way Shamim and Emon batted, it made us win with a lot of ease.”
Shamim’s trademark flourish – a no-look scoop off Smith that sailed over the wicket-keeper – drew an audible gasp and had his team-mate smiling.
“He plays the type of shots that very few players can pull off,” Hridoy said. “Bowlers are under pressure when a batter plays such shots. You need a player like Shamim at No. 6, who can play such cameos. I just pray that he continues to be successful.”
Parvez’s assault on Sodhi set the tone. One ball removed, Bangladesh refused to play the waiting game, a shift neatly captured by Hridoy’s own approach.
“The saying goes, attack is the best form of defence,” Hridoy added. “You can’t cut it at international level if you are bogged down. I think Emon played his shots with a clear mind. I gave him some information, but he executed his shots really well.”
Before the late carnage, New Zealand had posted 182 for 6, a total that looked more than handy on a surface offering some grip. Will Young’s measured 60 anchored the innings, while Glenn Phillips’ brisk 38 nudged the score above the par mark. Mustafizur Rahman’s cutters limited the damage at the death, leaving Bangladesh with a target that still required their third-highest successful chase in the format.
“That’s the game,” he said, “but I think we are improving every day.”
Bangladesh have now chased 180 or more only four times in T20 internationals, and never as briskly at the finish. Whether the method is repeatable remains to be seen; matching strike-rates of 203 will not happen nightly. Hridoy, though, sounded a note of quiet optimism.
“I usually try to fulfil the team’s demand. In that situation today, we needed quick runs. I just planned to attack, otherwise it would have been tough for us. So I tried to be as attacking as possible.”
A new-look order, a bolder plan, and two points banked. For a side that often leaves things a touch late, Monday’s sprint felt like a small but timely statement.
