Bangladesh managed to assemble a rare, precise performance at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, salvaging their otherwise dismal World Cup campaign. With only 69 runs needed for victory and more than 16 overs at their disposal, the Tigers were on the brink of a triumph.
While both teams had no chance of reaching the semifinals, they played with a fierce determination, aiming for pride and a potential qualification to the Champions Trophy. Throughout the game, tensions ran high, leading to what has now been dubbed the “Nagin derby.” The pinnacle of this intensity unfolded in the 32nd over of the match.
Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib Al Hasan, was batting brilliantly on 82 off just 64 deliveries, rescuing his team from a perilous situation and steering them towards a certain victory. When Angelo Mathews took the ball in hand, it marked a critical turning point. The stage had been set for this showdown, with the sparks first flying in the first innings when Shakib’s appeal led to Mathews becoming the first batter in international cricket history to be timed out, as the Bangladeshi captain declined to withdraw the appeal.
In the early stages of Shakib’s innings, the all-rounder had attempted aggressive strokes against the medium pacer, even offering a straightforward catch, which Sri Lanka failed to capitalize on. However, Mathews eventually had the last word.
Shakib misread Mathews’ off-cutter, resulting in a leading edge that popped up harmlessly in the air. Charith Asalanka completed this dramatic sequence with an excellent diving catch. Mathews, still nursing the grievances from his own dismissal earlier, ensured Shakib knew his sentiments as he stared at him purposefully while the captain walked off the field.
He then tapped on an imaginary wristwatch on his wrist, symbolizing that Shakib’s time had run out. The fired-up bowler went on to dismiss Najmul Shanto, who was well-set at 90, in his very next over, reigniting Sri Lanka’s hopes and sparking a flurry of reactions on Twitter.