Man of the match Shakib gave credit to the bowlers

In a crucial match against the Netherlands, Shakib Al Hasan returned to form with a stellar performance, silencing his critics who had begun to question his place in the T20 format. Coming in to bat in the fourth over, Shakib anchored the innings with a 64-run knock off 46 balls, featuring 9 boundaries. His efforts helped Bangladesh set a competitive total of 159 runs, leading to a 25-run victory.

Shakib's innings was particularly significant as he had struggled in the first two matches of the World Cup, failing to reach double figures. His return to form was not only a relief for him but also for his fans and the entire team. Reflecting on his performance and the victory, Shakib said,

"It was important for one of the top four batters to bat throughout the innings. I am happy with the way I contributed with the bat. The pitch was not easy at the start, but we held our nerves and managed to put up a satisfactory total. I wouldn't say it was a winning total, but it was a challenging one."

Despite setting a challenging target, Bangladesh faced pressure during the middle overs. The Netherlands required 56 runs off the last 36 balls with 7 wickets in hand, putting the Tigers in a tight spot. However, the tide turned with Mustafizur Rahman's economical death over bowling and Rishad Hossain's crucial breakthrough in the 15th over. Praising the bowlers, Shakib said,

"The bowlers did a great job, especially Fizz (Mustafizur Rahman) and Rishad. These two bowlers turned the game in our favor."

Shakib further commented on the team's strategy and performance, highlighting the challenges and the importance of maintaining composure:

"In the last four to five years, with fewer international matches, it was hard to gauge what a good total is. That's why we aimed to keep our wickets in hand and assess where we could be by the 14th or 15th over. Scoring almost 160 in a World Cup match is quite good and was proven today. They also had momentum around the 12th over, when their score was 80 or 90 for three. On this wicket, getting 10 runs in an over was challenging, especially with the wind. Full credit to our bowlers for holding their nerves and delivering."

This victory has brought Bangladesh one step closer to the Super Eight stage of the tournament. With 4 points from 3 matches, Bangladesh now sits in second place on the points table.