In the first T20 match of the pre-World Cup series, co-hosts USA defeated star-studded Bangladesh by five wickets.
With the help of a powerful batsman from New Zealand and a former third-year Indian player, the United States gained confidence with a five-wicket victory over Bangladesh in a T20 with just over a week left to co-host the tournament.
All-round batting pitcher Corey Anderson, who played 13 Tests and more than 80 white-ball games for New Zealand, pitched an unbeaten 34-0 record as the U.S. trailed Bangladesh 153-6 with three pitches remaining on Tuesday in Prairie View, Texas. left.
Harmeet Singh, who represented India in under-19 cricket, partnered Anderson for 62 runs and finished with 33 not out off 36 shots to win the match.
The Bangladesh side was packed with international stars including former captain Shakib Alhasan, Mahmudullah, Nazimul Shanto, Mahedi Hasan, Litton Das and Mustafizur Rahman.
Bangladesh 🆚 USA | 1st T20i
USA wins by 5 wickets#BCB #cricket #BANvUSA #BDCcricket #Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/wZWqJCk0kN— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) May 21, 2024
It was the United States’ second T20 victory over a full ICC member nation, two and a half years after its first win against Ireland in 2021.
Ranked 19th in T20 cricket, Monank Patel’s USA have little chance of progressing beyond the group stage in the 20-nation World Cup, which they are co-hosting with the West Indies.
However, Bangladesh’s upset in the series opener against a South Asian team raises hopes that the Americans will not embarrass themselves in front of their home fans.
The United States will comfortably qualify for the T20 World Cup on June 1 in Dallas against fellow cricketing powerhouse Canada.
After that, games against world-class powerhouses Pakistan and India will follow, and then the United States will play Ireland in the final group game.
Bangladesh is placed in the so-called “death group” along with Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands.