US embarrass Bangladesh in 1st T20I

The USA provided a harsh reality check to Bangladesh right before the ICC T20 World Cup, handing the Tigers a five-wicket defeat in the first T20I of a three-match series at the Prairie View Cricket Complex on Tuesday.

Harmeet Singh hit a terrific 13-ball 33 while former Kiwi all-rounder Corey Anderson remained unbeaten on a 25-ball 34 as the USA sailed to 156-5 in 19.3 overs, to register their second ever win over a Test nation.

Earlier, Bangladesh had posted 153-6 with Towhid Hridoy top scoring with 58 off 47 balls.

Bangladesh were seemingly in control of the match till the 16th over of the USA innings thanks to their bowlers, as the USA were reduced to 99-5, needing 55 runs to win in 24 balls.

Harmeet then began his onslaught, first hitting Mustafizur Rahman for consecutive sixes in the 17th over to take 17 off it and then hitting a six and a four each in the following over from Shoriful to bring the required runs to 24 off 12 balls.

Anderson joined the party in the penultimate over, hitting a six off Mustafizur, which left Mahmudullah only nine runs to defend in the 20th,

Any hopes of seeking out a victory disappeared after Anderson hit a maximum off the first ball of the final over, and Harmeet deservingly hit the final runs, with a four through extra cover.

This was the first ever T20I between the two sides. The second match of the series will be played at the same venue on May 23.

Hridoy fifty guides Tigers to 153-6 in T20I opener against USA

Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy’s half-century was the only highlight in what was another disappointing batting effort by the Tigers as they posted 153 for six against the USA in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Prairie View Cricket Complex in Texas on Tuesday.

Hridoy smashed four boundaries and two sixes for his 47–ball 58 to lift Bangladesh from an uncomfortable situation that saw them get reduced to four down for 71 after 12 overs.

Opener Liton Das’s abysmal run continued as he managed a 15-ball 14 despite enjoying at least one reprieve, and his opening partner Soumya Sarker, who scored a 13-ball 20, did not have the best outing either.

It was another struggle for skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto with the bat and he was put out of his misery after managing an 11-ball three.

A mix-up with Hridoy saw Shakib Al Hasan get run out after a 12-ball six after which the former took the onus upon himself to propel the Tigers to a decent total. The right-handed batter put together a 67-run stand with Mahmudullah who scored a 22-ball 31 and played through the innings to ensure the visitors went past 150.

Bangladesh to bat first in T20I opener against USA

USA won the toss and put Bangladesh into bat first in the first of the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh at the Prairie View Cricket Complex in Texas on Tuesday.

Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam.