Torn apart

Bangladesh hit their lowest ebb in a T20 game when they were bowled out for 70 in 15.4 overs against New Zealand at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata yesterday. In what was their last game of the ICC World T20, the Bangladesh batting simply lacked the discipline when they came out to bat against a three-pronged spin attack led by Mitchell Santner. Wickets fell at regular intervals once opener Tamim Iqbal was run out by a direct hit from Colin Munro for two. They were reduced to 44 for six in 10.4 overs and faced the ignominy of being bowled out for their lowest total, eclipsing their previous low of 78 in 17.3 overs in Hamilton, also against New Zealand, in 2010.

A sudden power failure came as a relief for the struggling Tigers. But when the lights returned and play resumed after around 15 minutes, the Tigers made sure they make an exit from the world stage in a most embarrassing fashion, despite a brilliant bowling performance from Mustafizur Rahman, who claimed his first five-for to restrict the Kiwis to 145 on a wicket that stopped a bit and took considerable spin.

Bangladesh's 75-run defeat was their second-biggest loss by runs and it served yet another stunning blow for them after that heart-stopping one-run defeat against India in two contrasting games inside four days.

The batting was absolutely in shambles. Mohammad Mithun was bowled for 11 after missing an attempted down-the-wicket shot, Shakib chanced his arm too early and was caught at long-on for two. Sabbir Rahman also perished in the same fashion and Mushfiqur Rahim continued his forgettable performance with the bat. He was bowled by a leg-cutter which turned enough to disturb his off-stump. Wickets kept on tumbling with Mahmhdullah Riyad playing down the wrong line against a googly from Sodhi. Captain Mashrafe was adjudged leg before for three. Mustafizur hit the only six of the Bangladesh innings before being out next ball. Shuvagat Hom, the only batsman who batted with some purpose, hit a superb four through the covers. But with last batsman Al Amin Hossain facing Sodhi after three balls, it was too tough to avoid the inevitable.

Earlier, Bangladesh bowled beautifully to restrict New Zealand to 145 for eight. Left-arm pace bowler Mustafizur revelled in all his guile and trickery to finish with five for 22, his best bowling figures in the shortest version of the game.

The 20-year-old cutter specialist actually took wickets in each of his four overs he bowled in different spells. Introduced in the fourth over with the Kiwis at 23 for no loss, Mustafizur had left-handed opener Henry Nicholls clean bowled with an off-cutter. He then returned in the ninth over to castle a menacing Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson with a leg-stump yorker. Williamson shuffled too much across and was completely deceived by the kind of delivery with which Mustafizur had Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez on his international debut a year ago. Williamson scored a 32-ball 42. The bowler with a golden left arm then returned in the final overs to claim three wickets, including two off successive deliveries in the last over. Facing him for the first time the Kiwis were clueless against his cutters. His figures could have been more impressive if he was not whacked for a six in the final ball. It was the second five-for by a Bangladesh bowler in T20s after left-arm spinner Elias Sunny's five for 13 against Ireland in Belfast in 2012.

While Mustafizur mesmerised, other bowlers chipped in around him bowling a disciplined line. Right arm pace bowler Al-Amin Hossain also bowled well to finish with two for 27. Mashrafe gave away 21 runs in his three overs but was unlucky not to get a wicket when Al-Amin dropped a sitter off the bat of Ross Taylor at square-leg. Al-Amin was then the victim of sloppy catching when Tamin dropped Luke Ronchi at cover.

Off-spinner Shuvagata conceded only 16 runs in his three overs apart from taking a very good catch running backwards at mid-on. Ace all-rounder Shakib was a bit expensive but he was unlucky not to have a confident appeal for leg-before against Munro go his way; the batsman went on to score 35 after surviving that close call at nine. But the bowling effort counted for little after that wobbling display with the bat.