The inability to close out a 114-run chase saw Bangladesh miss out on their first T20I win over South Africa as they suffered a four-run defeat in their second match of the ICC T20 World Cup at the Nassau County Cricket Ground in New York on Monday.
Bangladesh can feel hard done by one incident especially, which took place in the 17th over. Mahmudullah missed a flick off Ottneil Baartman, which hit his pad and deflected to the boundary for what looked like four leg byes.
However, the umpire gave him out, which made it dead at the point of impact, and despite a review saving Mahmudullah, because he had been given out, the four runs did not count, as outlined by the ICC鈥檚 protocols on DRS [3.7.1] for T20Is.
Towhid Hridoy, Bangladesh鈥檚 best batter on the day with a 34-ball 37, expressed some disgruntlement about the decision.
鈥楽ee, the rule, what the ICC has done is not in my hands but at that time those four runs were very important for us. I think the umpire has given the call and the umpire can give a call. They are also human beings and they could have made a mistake. But we had two-three more wides which were not given,鈥� said Towhid following the battle.
鈥楽o, in a match like this, where hardly a run is being made in a low-scoring match, one or two runs are a big factor. So, I think those four runs or two wide runs were close calls. Even my out was the umpire鈥檚 call. So, I think there is room for improvement in these areas. And we have nothing to do with rules that the ICC made.鈥�
In reply to a paltry 113-6, Bangladesh were on the brink of victory, thanks to Mahmudullah and Towhid鈥檚 44-run partnership for the fifth wicket after they were shortened to 50-4 in 9.5 overs.
The duo steadied the innings well and every run was gathering huge applause from the present Bangladesh crowd. However, the scenario abruptly changed after Towhid was trapped leg before by Kagiso Rabada with Bangladesh only 20 runs away from their second victory.
Towhid believed he should have guided Bangladesh to the win despite the top-order failing once again.
鈥榃e lost the match because of my dismissal. If I had finished the game there, we would not have lost the match. They [Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan] were out a long time ago but I was there until the end. I think I could have made the team win in today鈥檚 game. I couldn鈥檛 do it because I was out. That鈥檚 it,鈥� he said.
鈥業 never felt like we might lose the game. As I said earlier, if I could have finished the game, we could easily win it.鈥�