Srinagar: Hosts USA stunned Bangladesh in the second T20I to take 2-0 unassailable lead in the three match series in Houston at the Prairie View Cricket Complex.
Bangladesh were bowled out for 138 in 19.3 overs, falling short of a 145-run target.
Chasing a target of 145, Bangladesh got off to the worst possible start as Saurabh Netravalkar took a brilliant return catch off his own bowling to dismiss Soumya Sarkar in the first over.
Tanzid Hasan, who came in for Litton Das, began well with a four and a six, but Jessy Singh struck in his first over to halt his progress. Tanzid scored 19 off 15 balls.
Despite losing two wickets early in the innings, the visitors were on course as captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Towhid Hridoy added 48 off 37 balls for the third wicket, putting them in control.
However, the well-set Shanto (36 off 34) was run out after a miscommunication with Hridoy. Hridoy (25 off 21), who was key after Shanto’s dismissal, was sent back by Corey Anderson.
Shakib (30 off 23) threatened to take the game away from the hosts, but Khan sent him back to the pavilion, leaving Bangladesh in a precarious position.
Khan and Netravalkar bowled two superb overs towards the end, leaving Bangladesh with the challenging task of scoring 12 runs in the final over with just one wicket remaining.
Rishad Hossain then hit Khan for a boundary, reducing the requirement to seven off four balls. However, he failed to get the ball over the keeper’s head on the next delivery. The ball grazed the bat on its way through to the USA captain Patel, sealing the game for Bangladesh.
Earlier, Bangladesh restricted the USA to 144-6. USA openers Steven Taylor and Monank Patel made a decent start, accumulating 44 runs off 6.4 overs for the first wicket.
Left-handed Taylor showcased some splendid shots, including maximums off Bangladesh’s top bowlers Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman.
Leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (two for 21) claimed two crucial wickets right after the powerplay, dismissing Taylor, who was batting well on 31, and the hard-hitting Andries Gous.
Aaron Jones (35 off 34) and Patel (42 off 38) spent some time at the crease but couldn’t quite accelerate as much as they intended.
The USA managed only 59 runs in the middle overs (7-15) despite losing just two wickets, which hindered their ability to post a larger total.
The hosts could only muster 43 runs in the final five overs.
The left-arm pace duo of Mustafizur and Shoriful Islam shared four wickets between them.
The three-match series serves as a prelude to the Twenty20 World Cup in the United States and the Caribbean, commencing on June 1.
The final match is also scheduled in Houston on Saturday.