Mustafiz takes six as Bangladesh restrict USA to 104

Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman
Prothom Alo file photo

A brilliant bowling display by Mustafizur Rahman has helped Bangladesh restrict the USA to 104 in the 3rd and final at Grand Prairie View Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Saturday.

Mustafiz bowled his career best figure taking six wickets for 10 in his four overs. This is the first six-wicket haul for a Bangladeshi bowler in the shortest format of the game.

Sent to bat, Shayan Jahangir and Andries Gous started well as the hosts made a 46-run opening partnership. Shakib Al Hasan broke the opening stand removing Gous, who scored 27 off 15 balls, in the last delivery of fifth over.  

Mustafizur’s onslaught started in the next over as he got Jahangir for 20-ball 18.

The USA could not recover from the double blow and lost losing wickets in regular intervals. Rishad Hossain bowled tight in middle overs as he conceded only seven runs in his stipulated four overs.

Mustafiz took two wickets in the last over to confirm his career best figure and restrict the hosts to 104 for 9.

Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rishad and Shakib Al Hasan took one wicket apiece.

Although the match becomes a dead-rubber with the USA already won the 3-match series, Bangladesh players will look for a consolation win before their T20 World Cup campaign starts on 8 June.

Bangladesh put a dismal show with bat and bowl and were defeated by the associate nation by margins of 5 wickets and 6 runs respectively in the first two matches.