After India defended 119 against Pakistan at the Nassau County International Stadium – a record for them – and South Africa defended 113 against Bangladesh at the same venue a day later, Bangladesh successfully defended a record score of 106 against Nepal at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
It is the lowest score successfully defended by Bangladesh in T20Is and the lowest score successfully defended by any team in men's T20 World Cups (in non-curtailed matches).
Bangladesh have defeated Nepal to secure their position in the Super 8 stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) June 17, 2024
Relive the match here: https://t.co/rBpA0XEbVN pic.twitter.com/N9or9T5g3U
With this win, Bangladesh secured a Super Eights spot, knocking Netherlands out in the process. Here's a list of the lowest scores successfully defended in men's T20 World Cups (in complete 20-over matches).
Lowest scores defended in T20 World Cups
106 - Bangladesh vs Nepal, 2024
Bangladesh were at the receiving end of the failing to chase down the lowest target in men's T20 World Cups a week back against South Africa, before they inflicted a similar punishment on Nepal, taking the world record in the process. After an early collapse, Bangladesh somehow went past 100 to get bowled out for 106. Their seamers, led by Tanzim Sakib, made life extremely difficult for Nepal batters in the chase, as they were reduced to 5-26 in seven overs. Eventually, Nepal were bundled out fo 85, losing by 21 runs and helping Bangladesh secure a Super Eights spot.
113 - South Africa vs Bangladesh, 2024
South Africa kept their nerves towards the end of Bangladesh's chase of 114. They became 23-4 while batting in the powerplay before Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller rescued the innings. But a superb display of death bowling restricted them to 113-6 in 20 overs. Bangladesh needed 20 off the last three overs, but made a meal of it as Keshav Maharaj defended 11 in the final over.
115 - South Africa vs Nepal, 2024
South Africa survived a massive scare against Nepal in St Vincent. They were restricted to 115-7 on a surface conducive to spin. Kushal Bhurtel took 4-19 for Nepal. In response, Nepal were 85-2 in 13.3 overs, neednig 31 in 39 balls with eight wickets in hand. Somehow, they managed to lose by one run from there, letting go of their opportunity to record their first victory against a Full Member nation.
119 - Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, 2014
On a typically sluggish Chattogram surface, Sri Lanka managed to put up only 119 with no one crossing 30. As it turned out, it proved nearly twice of what they needed as New Zealand were bowled out for 60. Rangana Herath's figures read an absurd 3.3-2-3-5, as Kane Williamson played a lone hand of 42 in a team score of 60.
119 - India vs Pakistan, 2024
India came from behind to script a nail-biting victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in New York. Having collapsed from 89-3 to 119, they were all but out of the game as Pakistan needed 48 from 48 with eight wickets in hand. Jasprit Bumrah then bowled a defining spell to win India the game, making it the joint-lowest score successfully defended in T20 World Cups.
123 - Afghanistan vs West Indies, 2016
Afghanistan became the only team to beat eventual champions West Indies in the 2016 T20 World Cup, in a thriller in Nagpur. Riding on Najibullah Zadran's 40-ball 48, they managed to finish on 123-7 as Samuel Badree took 3-14. In response, however, they lost their way from 79-3 in 13.5 overs, to finish six runs short at 117-8.
126 - New Zealand vs India, 2016
On the same Nagpur minefield, India failed to chase 127 against New Zealand. They never got going, collapsing to 12-3, 43-7, and eventually 79 all out, as they lost by 47 runs. Mitchell Santner (4-11) and Ish Sodhi (3-18) were the destoryers-in-chief.
