Bangladesh Beat Netherlands in First T20I

Bangladesh started their three-match T20 series against the Netherlands with a big win in Sylhet. The home team chased down a small target of 137 runs in only 13.3 overs, winning by 8 wickets. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed was the star with the ball, while Litton Das led the batting with a calm and stylish innings.

Netherlands Batting: A Tough Start

The Netherlands won the toss and decided to bat first. Their plan was to put up a good total and put pressure on Bangladesh.

At the start, openers Max O’Dowd and Michael Levitt tried to play carefully. After the first six overs (powerplay), they were 35/1. But soon, Bangladesh’s bowlers took control.

Taskin Ahmed bowled fast and straight. He dismissed O’Dowd with a beauty and then got two more wickets quickly. This left the Netherlands struggling at 65/4 by the halfway mark.

Captain Scott Edwards and all-rounder Bas de Leede tried to build the innings. But Bangladesh’s spinners, Nasum Ahmed and Mahedi Hasan, did not give away easy runs. They bowled tight overs, forcing the Dutch batters to take risks.

Towards the end, Logan van Beek hit a few shots to push the score to 136/8 in 20 overs. But everyone knew it was not enough on this ground.

Taskin Ahmed – The Game Changer

The hero of the Dutch innings was not a batter, but Taskin Ahmed with the ball. He bowled with fire and energy, finishing with 4 wickets for 28 runs. Every time Bangladesh needed a breakthrough, Taskin delivered.

His spell broke the backbone of the Netherlands’ batting. Without his wickets, the visitors could have scored closer to 160–170. Taskin’s performance also showed his growing role as a leader in Bangladesh’s bowling attack.

Bangladesh Batting: Smooth Chase

Chasing 137, Bangladesh started with Litton Das and Soumya Sarkar. Soumya tried to attack but got out early against Paul van Meekeren.

Litton Das, however, played smart cricket. He rotated the strike, hit boundaries when needed, and looked very comfortable against both pace and spin. His innings gave Bangladesh complete control.

Captain Shakib Al Hasan joined him at the crease and added important runs. By the 10th over, Bangladesh were already at 90/2, and the result was clear.

At the end, Saif Hassan came in and played a short, attacking knock. He hit a six and a couple of fours to finish the game quickly. Bangladesh reached 137/2 in just 13.3 overs.

Key Moments of the Match

1. Taskin Ahmed’s double strike in the 10th over changed everything for the Netherlands.

2. Tight bowling from spinners Nasum and Mahedi kept the Dutch batters under pressure.

3. Litton Das’s fifty gave Bangladesh a solid base in the chase.

4. Saif Hassan’s quick hits ended the match in style.

Lessons for Both Teams

• Bangladesh will be very happy. Their bowlers did the job, and their batting was calm and confident. This performance will give them confidence before the Asia Cup.

• Netherlands showed some fight, but they need to improve. Their batters must build longer partnerships, and their bowlers must find early wickets to put pressure on Bangladesh.

Player of the Match

No surprise — the award went to Taskin Ahmed. His pace and aggression broke the Dutch batting. Without him, the Netherlands might have scored much more.

Series Importance

This is not just any series. For Bangladesh, it is preparation for bigger tournaments like the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup. For the Netherlands, it is their first ever bilateral T20I series in Bangladesh. It gives them experience of playing in Asian conditions, which will help them grow as a team.

Looking Ahead

The teams will now play the second T20I. Bangladesh will want to seal the series early, while the Netherlands will try to fight back and make it 1-1.

Conclusion

The first T20I in Sylhet belonged to Bangladesh. Taskin Ahmed’s four wickets and Litton Das’s calm half-century made the difference. Bangladesh won easily by eight wickets and showed they are ready for tougher challenges ahead.

The Netherlands, on the other hand, will see this as a learning opportunity. They have two more games to show their improvement.

For now, Bangladesh fans can celebrate a perfect start to the series — a match full of pace, skill, and confidence