Time News Desk: Before the start of England's tour of Bangladesh, few thought the Tigers would win the three-match T20I series against the reigning world champions. And yesterday, after a whitewash was secured with a 16-run victory in the third and final game, that too in the T20I format, it still felt like a daydream.
Questions had abounded about the abilities of the Tigers, especially in the game's shortest format and expectations were at minimal compared to the ODI series. But Shakib Al Hasan and Co. turned the tables to register a historic 3-0 series win against England.
The win rates as one of the biggest in Bangladesh's T20 history, with their two previous clean sweeps in the format coming against Zimbabwe and Ireland.
Despite the fact that the Tigers had already secured the series, the hosts' hunger to stamp their authority on the world champions in the third and final game was clear. And this energetic Bangladesh team was arguably able to do so, displaying a winning mentality and holding their nerves when the going got tough.
After losing the toss for the first time in the entire white-ball series, Bangladesh was asked to bat.
Immediately, Liton Das and Rony Talukdar put their attacking mindset on display, getting the Tigers off to a flying start. Rony departed after scoring 24 off 22 deliveries but Liton, alongside in-form Nazmul Hossain Shanto, who remained unbeaten after a 36-ball 47, continued to push the tempo.
Liton, who had failed to make an impact throughout the series, stood firm and registered his highest T20I score before being dismissed for a 57-ball 73 with 10 fours and a six, ending an 84-run stand for the second wicket.
England then managed to stage a comeback, restricting Bangladesh to just 27 runs off the last five overs as they posted 158 for two.
At that point, it seemed the Tigers were 20-30 runs short and that started to haunt the hosts when England came out all-guns-blazing.
Opener Dawid Malan and skipper Jos Buttler dominated the Tigers and the visitors reached 100 for one in 13 overs.
With nine wickets in hand and 59 needed off the last seven overs, England had the momentum until Mustafizur Rahman's 14th overturned the tables.
The Fizz, who had struggled with the ball till that point, removed Malan before Mehedi Hasan Miraz inflicted a brilliant run-out to dismiss Buttler in the same over.
Mustafizur, who conceded just two runs off that over, came back in the 18th over and again showed his class. The left-arm seamer conceded just five runs with England needing 36 to win off the last three overs, setting the platform. The visitors eventually managed 142 for six after 20 overs.
There were incredible scenes at the home of cricket in Mirpur after an unprecedented whitewash against reigning world champions, with Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan Papon announcing a winning bonus for the team in the dressing room.
