Bangladesh brushed aside pre-match doubts with a commanding eight-wicket victory over the Netherlands in the opening T20I at a packed Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, chasing down 138 with 39 balls to spare.
In the build-up to the Asia Cup, questions had swirled over whether the Tigers might falter against the Dutch. Skipper Litton Das and head coach Phil Simmons had warned against underestimating their opponents, but once the match began, Bangladesh’s superiority was evident in every department.
Taskin Ahmed set the tone early, dismantling the Dutch top order with pace, precision, and clever variations. He removed Max O’Dowd for 23 in the fourth over and struck again in the eighth to dismiss Vikramjit Singh for just four. Taskin’s relentless spell yielded four wickets for 28 runs, with Kyle Klein (9) and Noah Croes (11) also falling to his craft.
Saif Hassan, making his T20I return after nearly four years, made an immediate impact with the ball. Introduced in the 10th over, he removed Teja Nidamanuru (26) and Dutch captain Scott Edwards (12) in the same over, halting any hopes of a Netherlands recovery.
When it came time to bat, Saif continued to shine. His unbeaten 36 from just 19 balls, featuring three towering sixes, provided the perfect foil to Litton Das’s captain’s knock. Litton’s 54 not out from 29 deliveries, laced with six fours and two sixes, ensured the chase was completed in style.
Earlier, Parvez Hossain Emon (15) and Tanzid Hasan (29) gave Bangladesh a steady start before the Litton–Saif partnership sealed the win at a brisk run rate of over 10. Aryan Dutt and Tim Pringle claimed a wicket apiece for the visitors, but it was little consolation.
Taskin’s match-winning spell earned him the player of the match award, as Bangladesh took a 1–0 lead in the three-match series and sent a clear message ahead of the Asia Cup.
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