Chasing a target of 160, the Netherlands were stopped at 134 for eight at the picturesque Arnos Vale Ground, hosting its first international match in 10 years.
The Bangladesh win also led to the elimination of Sri Lanka from the tournament.
Shakib made a strong comeback with a 46-ball 64, helping Bangladesh post a competitive total of 159 for five after being asked to bat.
Alongside Shakib, Tanzid Hasan contributed 35 off 26 balls and Mahmudullah added 25 off 21 balls.
In their chase, the Dutch lost two early wickets with just 32 runs on the board as the powerplay was about to conclude.
As It Happened
Vikramjit Singh looked dangerous, scoring 26 off 16 balls with three sixes but Mahmudullah managed to have him stumped, leaving the Netherlands at 69 for three at the halfway mark.
Sybrand Engelbrecht (33 off 22 balls) and skipper Scott Edwards (25 off 23) formed a significant partnership, adding 42 runs for the fourth wicket before Rishad Hossain’s two-wicket burst turned the match decisively in Bangladesh’s favor.
Mustafizur Rahman, bowling brilliantly from the other end, removed Edwards, and Rishad followed up by dismissing Logan van Beek for cheap, putting Bangladesh firmly in control.
Facing a daunting target of 86 off 60 balls, the Netherlands tried to keep the contest alive but collapsed, losing four wickets as Taskin Ahmed (2/30), Rishad (3/33), and Mustafizur Rahman (1/12) performed exceptionally well.
Earlier, with two left-handers opening the innings for Bangladesh, Netherlands captain Scott Edwards handed the new ball to off-spinner Aryan Dutt in the second over. The strategic move paid off instantly as Dutt claimed the big wicket of Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (1).
Shanto’s dismissal was largely due to poor shot selection as he attempted an unnecessary reverse sweep, resulting in a catch at the first slip.
Dutt struck again at the beginning of the fourth over, thanks to a stunning catch in the deep by Sybrand Engelbrecht. Litton Das’s sweep towards square-leg was brilliantly intercepted by Engelbrecht, who covered significant ground to secure a diving catch.
Das’ shot was deemed unnecessary, especially after Tanzid Hasan had just picked up two boundaries and a six in the previous over. Tanzid had showcased his aggression by dancing down the pitch and lofting a maximum over the covers.
Dutt, being the only change in the Dutch lineup for this crucial Group D match, justified his selection with excellent figures of 2 for 17. Paul van Meekeren also impressed with the ball, taking 2 for 15.
Bangladesh accelerated with a productive 18-run fourth over bowled by Vivian Kingma.
Shakib, struggling for form before this game, found his rhythm and smashed four boundaries in the sixth over, which yielded 19 runs, taking Bangladesh to 54 for two by the end of the powerplay.
In an attempt to keep the momentum, Tanzid Hasan tried to hit van Meekeren against the wind but ended up holing out to Bas de Leede in the outfield.
Bangladesh’s two most experienced players, Mahmudullah and Shakib, then added 41 runs for the fourth wicket, stabilizing the innings.
However, as the innings approached its final phase, Mahmudullah, having hit two sixes and two fours, was caught near the ropes by Engelbrecht, struggling against the strong wind.
Engelbrecht’s second solid catch highlighted the fielding efforts that kept the Dutch in contention for large parts of the game.
Points Table | Schedule
Despite the Dutch bowlers applying pressure, Bangladesh’s middle order, spearheaded by Shakib’s assuring knock, managed to build a competitive total that proved too challenging for the Netherlands to chase down.
This performance by Bangladesh not only strengthened their chances of advancing in the tournament but also showcased a balanced team effort with both bat and ball.