A match-turning over from Rishad Hossain has put Bangladesh on the brink of the second stage of the T20 World Cup, engineering a 25-run victory over Netherlands at Arnos Vale, Kingstown, on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent.
Shakib Al-Hasan hit a 46-ball 64 as Bangladesh posted 5-159 after being put in.
Netherlands looked in control of their pursuit with valuable contributions from Vikram Singh, Sybrand Engelbrecht and Scott Edwards.
But in the 15th over Hossain dismissed Engelbrecht (33 from 22) and Bas de Leede (0) in the space of three balls. He returned for the 18th over and caught and bowled Logan van Beek to give him three wickets in four balls and overall figures of 3-33.
Put in to bat Bangladesh made a poor start as Najmul Shanto (1) and Litton Das (1) both fell early to Aryan Dutt (2-17) before Tanzid Hasan (35) and Shakib rebuilt the innings. But the former chipped Paul Van Meerkeren (2-15) to Bas de Leede leaving them 3-71 after nine overs.
Though Towhid Hridoy fell for nine Mahmudullah’s 24 from 20 set a platform for Bangladesh to attack in the final overs with Jaker Ali (14) and Shakib adding 26 from the last two.
Netherlands made a slow start in response but Vikramjit Singh provided impetus, launching three sixes in his quickfire 26 from 15 to leave his side needing 86 from the final 10 overs.
Netherlands were in the driving seat when Engelbrecht put his foot on the gas but Rishad Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman – who dismissed Scott Edwards (25 from 23) – reduced them from 3-11 to 7-117.
They closed on 8-134 and Bangladesh, whose last match is against Nepal, are now hot favourites to join South Africa in the super eights.