ARNOS VALE - Bangladesh qualified for the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup after a 21-run victory over Nepal on Sunday secured their place in the next round.
Bangladesh struggled with the bat on a tricky surface at Arnos Vale, making 106 all out in 19.3 overs, but then a devastating spell of 4-7 from pace bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib had Nepal's reply in big trouble at 26-5.
Nepal recovered but 3-7 from wily left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman, including a wicket maiden in the penultimate over, secured victory with Nepal bowled out for 85 in 19.2 overs.
Bangladesh finished second in Group D behind South Africa and will join Afghanistan, India and Australia in Group 1 of the Super Eights.
"Obviously very happy the way we played this qualifying round and I hope we will continue our bowling performance, not batting, but we hope that our batting will be fine in the next round," said Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto.
"We obviously saw Tanzim rip through the top order, but it's backed up with the left arm pace, the leg spin, the slow left arm spin," he added.
"We have everything. I think the last couple of years, all the fast bowlers worked really, really hard and that's why we played some good cricket here. In this format, the bowling unit is very important, so I hope they will continue their form," he said.