Upsetting news for the Windies as they become the first team to be knocked out of cricket’s World Twenty20. Eliminating India from the first round of the 50 over World Cup a few months ago, Bangladesh inflicted the same wound on the Windies who walked out of the tournament, without a single win. Setting a modest 165 for victory, Bangladesh romped home with two overs to spare as their skipper Ashraful who also won the man of the match, hammered an electrifying 27-ball 61 to script a win.
It was sweet revenge for Ashraful, who after conceding over 50 runs with his leg breaks, slammed the West Indies bowlers to record the fastest fifty in Twenty20 internationals, off just 20 balls. He was aided by Aftab Ahmed’s knock of 52. Earlier for the West Indies, Smith managed a top score with 51 as their devastating opener Chris Gayle got dismissed cheaply, for a duck. For Tigers, Sakibal Hasan was the main wrecker who bagged four for 34.
Zimbabwe who stunned Australia yesterday, could not cherish their victory for long as Pietersen’s 79 off 37 balls helped England to win by 50 runs. It wasn’t a plain sailing for the Englishmen who lost two early wickets but certainly benefited on the back of a long summer of cricket and with five years of Twenty20 matches under their belts. Skipper Collingwood added 37 runs as his team’s 188-9 proved too much for Zimbabwe to overcome. Sibanda and Taylor the top run scorer with 47, gave Zimbabwe a good start, with an opening partnership of 74, but after Mascarenhas got rid of Sibanda for 29, the Zimbabwe chase stalled on 138-7. Mascarenhas ended with 3-18 off his four overs.
Meanwhile, India’s start to the tournament was spoiled by the downpour as it completely washed out its encounter with Scotland and was forced to accept a single point.
Via: Bloomberg
