Home ›› 30 Mar 2023 ›› Sport
During the 2021 T20 World Cup, Shakib Al Hasan went past Lasith Malinga to become the highest wicket-taker in Twenty20 Internationals history.
However, over the course of the last year and a half, he had lost that throne to New Zealand’s Tim Southee.
On Wednesday, Shakib, with his second five-wicket haul in the format, went past Southee to become the highest wicket-taker in T20Is again.
Not just that, with that fifer, Shakib also became the only player to score more than 30 runs and pick up four or more wickets in a match for the fourth time, the highest by anyone.
As usual, Shakib performed with both bat and ball on Wednesday. First, following Liton Das’ 83, Shakib’s unbeaten 38 off 24 balls allowed Bangladesh to post 202-3, despite rain eating away three overs of their innings.
However, it was Shakib’s bowling performance that brought him yet another Player of the Match award.
His first wicket came with a flighted delivery, that Lorcan Tucker only managed to sweep to Rony Talukdar in the deep.
In the next over, Shakib’s trademark arm ball caught Ross Adair flat-footed, before Gareth Delany under-edged one to Liton.
In his third over, the number one all-rounder in the format trapped George Dockrell LBW, which took him past Southee, and then in the final delivery, he knocked over the dangerous-looking Harry Tector.
Shakib could have had six but his last over ended up wicketless, resulting in him finishing the match with figures of 5-22, his second-best in the format.
As the new Bangladesh keeps going on with brilliant intent, Shakib has continued to lead from the front, in either role.
