Cricket: Iqbal leads Bangladesh to victory

Tamim Iqbal scored an unbeaten half-century as Bangladesh cruised to an eight-wicket win over the Netherlands in the first Twenty20, according to Sky Sports. Iqbal finished on 69 and shared in an unbroken 82-run stand with Mushfiqur Rahim  (37*) as Bangladesh, who suffered a 34-run T20 defeat to Scotland the previous day, reached their target of 145 with two overs remaining. Iqbal struck five fours and two sixes in his 53-ball knock having been dropped in the first over, while Rahim’s 24-ball innings included four sixes, two of which came off the final three balls of the match as he finished proceedings in style. Earlier, Mashrafe Mortaza and Shakibal Hasan took two wickets each as the Netherlands made 144 for seven after choosing to bat.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2012.