Day: October 21, 2021

Dubai, October 21, 2021 (PPI-OT):For Scottish cricket, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 was always going to be about more than the 15-man playing squad.

This was an opportunity for a breakthrough tournament of the likes of Afghanistan five years ago or Ireland at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup back in 2007.

The introduction of the Super 12 stage meant that there was almost an expectation of getting through the first round, a feeling that only grew after that stunning opening win against Bangladesh.

Now, thanks to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Oman, Scotland have not only qualified, but they have also topped Group B and enter the Super 12 in the B1 slot full of confidence with matches against India, New Zealand and Pakistan, not to mention old rivals Afghanistan on the horizon.

In the here and now, Mark Watt talked about causing more upsets and with the balance and depth of the side, that is a very real possibility.

Whether they do or not, the wider ramifications of this qualification could be felt in the coming years and decades though as Scottish cricket gets an opportunity to shine a light on the game on the biggest stage of all.

Watt explained: “A lot of people will be looking at us on the TV and thinking they want to play for Scotland now. That is our main aim, to inspire a nation.

“We want kids to grow up and try different sports and try cricket. It’s not a massive sport, we want to try to push that up there and we think this is going to help massively.”

Skipper Kyle Coetzer has been a key part of the Scotland set-up for nearly two decades now, but had been short of runs coming into the tournament and in the opening two matches.

That changed against Oman, with the opener smashing 41 to calm any fears over whether 122 might prove a trickier target than on first appearances.

At 37, Coetzer has spent so long waiting for an opportunity like this, and he fully intends to take it.

He said: “For Cricket Scotland and back home, it’s huge, the opportunity to play on the biggest stage, the opportunity to test ourselves against the best and grow the game back home, the following has been immense.

“There’s a real togetherness among our squad, we’ve been through thick and thin, a number of these players were at the last T20 World Cup and just missed out on group stage. The guys have put in a lot of work over the past couple of years to keep developing their game. The coaching staff have done a fantastic job. The guys are in a great place, playing some excellent cricket and are a pretty well-established outfit with bat, ball and in the field.

“As far as I’m aware this group we were just in was a mighty tough group so the next one will be tougher. There is no reason to fear any games in that group. We will go into every game full of hope and belief that we can win more games.”

Coetzer is right to be optimistic considering what Scotland have achieved so far. Perhaps more exciting though, is what they might achieve in the future.

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com

Dubai, October 21, 2021 (PPI-OT):Shakib Al Hasan produced another sensational performance as Bangladesh qualified for the Super 12s with an 84-run win against Papua New Guinea.

Shakib, second in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s T20I all-rounder rankings, took four for nine in a typically masterful spell to help dismiss PNG for just 97.

He also weighed in with the bat, scoring an impressive 46, as the Tigers made an imposing 181 for seven.

PNG’s fielders took some spectacular catches but with the bat they struggled to fend off Shakib, with Kiplin Doriga the only one to offer some resistance with an unbeaten 46.

Bangladesh batting coach Ashwell Prince said his charges would go “full throttle” in this match and they had a chance to do just that from the outset after winning the toss.

However, Mohammad Naim was out second ball to Kabua Morea after he picked out a fielder at deep square leg.

Shakib partnered Liton Das at the crease and the pair helped stave off an early crisis with a 50-run partnership, with Shakib cleverly rotating the strike in a phase of the game the Tigers struggled for boundaries.

Das was then brilliantly caught in the deep by Sese Bau off captain Assad Vala while attempting a slog-sweep and, with a run-rate under seven, PNG did well to restrict Bangladesh in the first half of their innings.

Shakib hit an 86-metre six in the tenth over, the Tigers’ first boundary in 32 balls, and left-arm spinner Simon Atai removed Mushfiqur Rahim for five, as Bangladesh continued to struggle.

Mahmudullah and Shakib tried to up the run-rate, with both striking a six, before Charles Amini took a spectacular catch by diving forwards at long on to dismiss Shakib.

The pressure fell on Mahmudullah to lead with the bat and he started well by cutting two balls to the boundary to reach 29 off 18 balls.

He then hit two sixes and a four off Chad Soper in the 17th over to reach his half-century off just 27 balls, the fastest 50 in the tournament so far. However, he was out on the 28th ball after hitting a full toss to deep square leg.

Nurul Hasan provided an entertaining cameo, with fours from his first two balls, while Afif Hossain made 21 before another brilliant catch – this time from Damien Ravu – saw him head back to the pavilion for 21.

Mohammad Saifuddin finished the innings in style, with sixes off the last two balls and a four from a free hit, to leave Bangladesh on 181 for seven.

PNG made a patient start with the bat but lost their first wicket in the third over, as Lega Siaka was trapped lbw by Saifuddin’s in-swinger, while Taskin Ahmed removed Vala five balls later thanks to a fine catch by Hasan behind the stumps.

Not to be outdone by PNG’s superb fielding, Bangladesh’s catchers were on fire, as Naim sprinted round from wide long on to take a spectacular diving catch to dismiss Amini at the beginning of the fifth over, while the bowler, Shakib, picked up another wicket three balls later as PNG fell to 14 for four.

Shakib returned four overs later to take his third wicket, with Bau caught by Naim in the deep, before the big-hitting Norman Vanua fell to Mahedi Hasan mid-way through the 10th.

Doriga offered some resistance with an impressive innings but Bangladesh chipped away and eventually bowled PNG out in the final over.

Scores in brief

Bangladesh beat Papua New Guinea, at Al Amerat Cricket Ground, Oman by 84 runs

Bangladesh 181/7 in 20 overs (Mahmudullah 50, Shakib Al Hasan 46; Assad Vala 2/26, Kabua Morea 2/26)

Papua New Guinea 97 all out in 19.2 overs (Kiplin Doriga 46 not out; Chad Soper 11; Shakib Al Hasan 4/9; Mohammad Saifuddin 2/21)

Player of the Match: Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)

For more information, contact:
Headquarters,
International Cricket Council (ICC)
Street 69, Dubai Sports City,
Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE
Phone: +97-143828800
Fax: +97-143828600
E-mail: enquiry@icc-cricket.com
Website: www.icc-cricket.com