Sports Desk:

Bangladesh national team produced a shocking performance in the first Twenty20 International of their three-match series against USA as they conceded a five-wicket defeat in Houston, Texas on Tuesday.

This was the first time Bangladesh played USA across any format, and they managed to lose despite being 10 steps ahead in the rankings.

This was USA’s second win over a full-member nation following their victory against Ireland in 2021.

The Tigers managed to produce a sorry performance across all three departments of the game, which saw them concede the defeat, and while they took on this series to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the T20 World Cup, it has now only shaken their confidence.

Bangladesh batted poorly to post a meagre 153-5, with Towhid Hridoy scoring 58 off 47 balls.

In reply, USA chased the total down with three balls to spare as Harmeet Singh hit a brilliant cameo of 33 runs off 13 balls.

After being put in to bat first, Bangladesh were poor from the get-go, especially Liton Das as he continued on his dismal run, scoring just 14 off 15 balls despite getting a dolly dropped earlier on.

Soumya Sarkar showed signs of life earlier on but hit a slog sweep straight to the fielder to fall for 20 off 13, and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto wasted 11 balls to score three runs before cluelessly dancing down the wicket to get himself stumped.

While Towhid tried to keep things together, Shakib Al Hasan opted to follow his captain scoring six off 12 balls before the team’s miscommunication between bat and ball transpired to between the two batters, leaving Shakib stranded in the middle of the pitch to get run out.

From there, Mahmudullah’s 22-ball 31 and Jaker Ali Anik’s unbeaten nine off five balls alongside Towhid’s second T20I fifty saw Bangladesh manage to reach 153-6.

Steven Taylor picked up two wickets for USA, while Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, and Jessy Singh picked up one wicket each.

In reply, USA were off to a good start as Taylor and Monank Singh added 27 off three overs before Shoriful Islam managed to get a hand to a Taylor straight drive to run Patel out at the non-striker’s end.

Bangladesh, though, seemed to have the game in control as they picked up wickets in the middle-overs to see USA needing 55 runs off the final four overs.

However, what followed was a poor display of death bowling as Mustafizur Rahman conceded 17 runs in the 17th over before conceding 15 in the 19th, and in between, Shoriful conceded 14 in the 18th over, meaning USA needed just nine off the final over.

Corey Anderson hit the first ball of the final over by Mahmudullah for a six to end Bangladesh’s hopes of winning, and Harmeet ended the tie with a four in the third delivery.

Mustafiz picked up two wickets for Bangladesh, while Rishad Hossain and Shoriful took one each.

The second match of the series is scheduled to be played on Thursday.