KINGSTOWN, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, June  13, 2024 (BSS/aAFP) -

Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan hit a half-century as Bangladesh made 159-5

in their T20 World Cup clash against the Netherlands on Thursday.

     The 37-year-old former captain recorded his 13th fifty in the format off 38

balls with seven fours as international cricket returned to Arnos Vale for the

first time in 10 years.

      Victory in the Group D match will allow Bangladesh to take a huge step

closer to the Super Eights alongside pool leaders South Africa who have already

secured qualification.

 Shakib went on to finish undefeated on 64 off 46 deliveries having crunched

nine fours in total.

    Opener Tanzid Hasan was also in the runs, stroking 35 off 26 balls with

five fours and one six.

     Bangladesh started their campaign with a two-wicket win over Sri Lanka

before suffering an agonising four-run loss to South Africa.

   The Dutch also went into Thursday's game with two points after defeating

Nepal by six wickets before losing to South Africa by four wickets.

     Off-spinner Aryan Dutt was drafted into the Dutch side in place of Teja

Nidamanuru and repaid his team's faith by taking the first two Bangladesh

wickets to fall.

    He sent back skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (one) and Liton Das (one) to

have the Tigers wobbling at 23-2.

 Shakib and Tanzid steadied the ship with a 48-run partnership for the third

wicket.

    Mahmudullah added a valuable late 25 runs off 21 balls with two fours and a

pair of sixes with Bangladesh taking 54 off the last five overs.