DHAKA, Oct 21, 2021 (BSS)-A ruthless performance saw Bangladesh thrash
Papua New Guinea by an overwhelming 84 runs, their highest margin victory in
this format-- to confirm the Super 12 of Twenty20 World Cup.

   Bangladesh lost their first match to Scotland by six runs before making a
huge turnaround with a clinical victory over Oman and PNG. Those two
victories bolstered their net run rate also, raising a prospect of being the
champions of Group B should Oman beat Scotland in the next game.

   At Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat today, the Tigers exactly did what
they needed to do to make them in favourable position in their group. And the
senior players-Shakib Al Hasan and skipper Mahmudullah, who had to face the
wrath after the shocking defeat to Scotland, led the way.

   Shakib Al Hasan finished with 4-9, equaling Shaheed Afridi's record of 39
wickets as the highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cup, before hitting a 37
ball-46 while Mahmudullah Riyad cracked a sublime 28 ball-50.

   Thanks to their performance and the contribution from the other batters
helped Bangladesh rack up their highest World Cup total of 181-7 and then the
bowlers dazzled with Shakib to wrap up PNG for 97 in 19.3 overs.

   Before this crushing victory, Bangladesh's largest -71 runs --victory was
against Ireland in Belfast in 2012 and their biggest World Cup victory was by
54 runs against Oman in 2016 T20 World Cup in Dharmashala, India.

   Mahmudullah struck three fours and as many sixes in his knock, which was
his sixth half-century in this format.

   After opting to bat first, Bangladesh again lost an early wicket with
opener Naim Sheikh being out on a half-volley delivery of Kabua Morea for
duck.

   Liton and Shakib then steadied the innings with 50-run partnership, which
was only broken after the former played a loose shot to be dismissed. After
being out cheaply in the last two matches, Liton Das finally made 29 off 23
with one four and one six in this game.

   But senior player Mushfiqur Rahim continued his bad patch to be out on 5
as Bangladesh appeared to be faltered.

   Mahmudullah and Shakib brought the side back in contention with free
flowing batting against a bowling attack that was not strong enough.

   Nevertheless PNG showed great spirit on the field as they took some
brilliant catches to stun Bangladesh.

   Shakib Al Hasan was one of the Bangladeshi batters to be victimized by
stunning catch as Charles Amini ran hard from long-on and dived forward to
take a low catch. This superb catch deprived him his half-century for the
consecutive second match.

   Shakib smacked three sixes for his 46 off 37, following his 29 ball-42
against Oman.

   Mahmudullah kept the side rolling and crashed Chad Soper's delivery to
backward point for four for his sixth half-century off only 27 balls. But
soon after that he mishit a high full toss delivery of Damien Ravu and
offered a catch at deep square leg.

   The third umpire checked it for no ball but gave a verdict of clean
delivery. Even The screen showed mistakenly 'not out', creating confusion but
later it was fixed.

   After the dismissal of Mahmudullah, Mohammad Saifuddin and Afif Hossain
played some big shots to post 181-7, eclipsing their previous highest of 180-
2 against Oman in 2016 T20 World Cup in India.

   Saifuddin clobbered two sixes and one four in his 6 ball-19 while Afif
scored 21 off 14. Kabua Morea, Assas Vala and Demien Ravu picked up two
wickets apiece for PNG.

   The inexperienced PNG batters were no match for the highly experienced
Bangladesh bowlers.

   They crumbled at the very outset in the chase of big total with Saifudding
opening the gate, dismissing Lega Siaka for 5 in the third over. Taskin Ahmed
removed Assad Vala who edged a moving delivery to wicket-keeper Nurul Hasan
Sohan.

   Shakib then appeared in the stage, bowling four overs in a row to take the
game away of the PNG by claiming four wickets. He took the scalp of Hiri Hiri
for his fourth and in doing so, equaled Shahid Afridi's 39 for highest
wicket-taker in T20 World Cup. One more wicket will help his go past Afridi
and he is surely getting the chance in Super 12.

   After Shakib's quota, PNG were reduced to 29-7, that threatened them to be
bowled out for lowest total (Netherlands 39 against Sri Lanka in Chattogram
in 2014) in T20 World Cup history. However Kiplin Doriga resisted and rescued
the side from the ultimate shamble. Doriga was stranded on 46 off 34 with two
fours and two sixes as PNG failed to play full 20 overs.

   Mohammad Saifuddin and Taskin Ahmed grabbed two wickets apiece to
complement Shakib's 4-0-9-4.