Bangladesh have won the third and final match of their group B qualifiers against PNG by 84 runs – their biggest victory in terms of runs in T20Is – to secure spot at the Super-12 stage of the T20 World Cup.
However, they have to wait for the last match of the group between Oman and Scotland to see if they are the champions of the group or runners up.
In reply of Bangladesh’s 181, PNG tumbled for 97 in 19.3 overs.
None of the top seven batters of PNG was able to reach a double-digit score but at the eighth, Kiplin Doriga scored an unbeaten 46 off 34 balls with two fours and two sixes.
Earlier, riding on a 50 from captain Mahmudullah Riyad and 46 from Shakib, Bangladesh posted 181. Lower order batter Mohammad Saifuddin smashed an unbeaten 19 off 6 balls hitting two sixes and one four.
Bangladesh’s 181 for 7 is now the highest total in this World Cup so far. The Tigers have surpassed Sri Lanka’s 171 against Ireland in Abu Dhabi.
Shakib Al Hasan won the player of the match award again for his 46 and a four-wicket haul. With this four-wicket, Shakib’s T20 World Cup tally reached 39. He is now the highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cup along with Pakistan great Shahid Afridi.
Bangladesh currently sit at the top of the group but that could change if Scotland win their game against Oman.
If Scotland win against Oman in the final Group B clash at the same venue later Thursday, then Bangladesh will be grouped in Pool 1 of the Super 12 comprising Australia, England, the West Indies, South Africa and the Group A champion from the qualifiers.
If Oman are victorious, then net run rate will be taken into consideration to decide the group champion and runners-up.
The hosts meanwhile would need to win by a huge margin of 79 runs to top the group and go through to the Super 12 at the expense of Scotland.
