USA Clinch T20I Series Victory Over Full-Member Bangladesh
On a bright morning at the Prairie View Cricket Complex in Texas, excitement was palpable as fans gathered to witness the second T20 International of the Bangladesh tour of the United States of America. Winning the toss, Bangladesh elected to field first, hoping to capitalize on early morning conditions.
Steven Taylor and Monank Patel walked out to the crease with determination etched on their faces. The opening overs were tense, with Bangladesh’s bowlers keeping a tight line. Taylor, however, was quick to break the shackles, smashing three boundaries and two towering sixes in his brisk 31 off 28 balls. The partnership was looking solid until Rishad Hossain struck, enticing Taylor into a mistimed shot that found Tanzid Hasan in the deep. USA was 44 for 1 in the 7th over.
The very next delivery saw Rishad Hossain continue his magic as he dismissed Andries Gous for a golden duck, leaving the USA in a precarious position at 44 for 2. Captain Monank Patel then took the responsibility to steady the ship. With a blend of caution and aggression, he crafted a crucial innings of 42 runs off 38 balls, finding the boundary four times and clearing it once.
Aaron Jones provided much-needed support with his 35 off 34 balls, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Corey Anderson’s quickfire 11 and the late cameos from Nitish Kumar and Shadley van Schalkwyk helped USA reach a respectable total. They finished their innings at 144 for 6 after 20 overs, a competitive score on a pitch offering something for both batters and bowlers.
Chasing 145, Bangladesh’s innings got off to a shaky start. Soumya Sarkar fell for a duck, caught and bowled one-handed by Saurabh Netravalkar in the very first over. Tanzid Hasan tried to counter-attack with a quick 19 off 15 balls, but his innings was cut short by Jasdeep Singh. The USA bowlers kept the pressure on, and a brilliant piece of fielding by Corey Anderson saw the end of Bangladesh’s captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, who was run out for 36.
Towhid Hridoy and Shakib Al Hasan then tried to stabilize the innings. Hridoy’s 24 and Shakib’s fluent 30 gave Bangladesh hope, but the USA bowlers kept chipping away. Corey Anderson bowled Hridoy, and Ali Khan delivered a double blow by removing Shakib and Tanzim Hasan Sakib in quick succession.
The match hung in the balance as Bangladesh’s lower order struggled to find their footing. Shadley van Schalkwyk struck twice, dismissing Mahmudullah and Jaker Ali, while Saurabh Netravalkar returned to clean up Shoriful Islam. At 132 for 9, Bangladesh’s hopes rested on Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad Hossain. However, Ali Khan ensured there would be no late heroics, finishing off the innings by bowling Tanzim Hasan Sakib and securing a thrilling victory for the USA.
The final moments were tense, with Bangladesh needing 13 runs off the last over. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as Ali Khan ran in to bowl. He kept his cool, delivering yorkers with pinpoint accuracy and conceding just 6 runs, ensuring Bangladesh were bowled out for 138 in 19.2 overs.
The USA team erupted in celebration, having pulled off a remarkable series victory against a strong Bangladesh side. For the few fans in attendance, it was a match to remember, filled with excitement, tension, and moments of brilliance.
