Match called off due to rain, Netherlands avoid whitewash

The clock was still ticking down to the start of play when a sudden burst of noise rolled out from the Sylhet crowd. At first glance, nothing out of the ordinary had happened—Netherlands captain Scott Edwards had won the toss and chosen to field, something every skipper must decide. But the fans' reaction had far more to do with the backdrop of the series than with the toss itself.

In the opening two matches, supporters who paid to be there hardly saw Bangladesh's batters in action. The Tigers wrapped up the first chase inside 13.2 overs, and the second in even fewer balls, leaving the paying public a little unsatisfied. That was why the prospect of Bangladesh batting first in the final contest sparked such enthusiasm—the chance at last to watch a full innings.

The weather, though, had other ideas. Twice rain interrupted proceedings, and ultimately the innings was called off at 164 for 4 after 18.2 overs. The full 20 overs never came, and when conditions failed to improve, the match was officially abandoned at 9:45 pm. Bangladesh finished with a 2–0 series victory.

Even so, the disappointment of a curtailed innings was eased by the batting on show. The innings contained eight boundaries and seven sixes, and the entertainment began right from the top of the order with captain Litton Das.

Having already secured the series, Bangladesh used this last fixture—also their final outing before the Asia Cup—to give opportunities to players who had sat out earlier. With five changes to the line-up, Litton opened alongside Saif Hassan, while Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain were rested.

From the outset, Litton attacked. In Daniel Doram's third over, he plundered three fours and a six to collect 22 runs, taking Bangladesh to 39 without loss. But the game's rhythm was soon disrupted—first by a floodlight failure after 3.5 overs, and then by rain.

Before the light issue, Saif had already fallen in the fourth over. Picked for his ability to slot in at various positions, he had shown glimpses of that flexibility batting at No. 4 earlier in the series. But as an opener, even after surviving a chance, he managed only 12 from 8 balls with two fours.

After an 11-minute delay, play resumed with Litton carrying on in the same vein. Three balls later, however, the rain came down again. Litton still found time to strike two more boundaries, but this stoppage dragged on for 35 minutes, and when play resumed, Bangladesh looked to have lost some of their momentum.

Litton nonetheless reached his half-century off just 27 balls, and in doing so, moved clear of Shakib Al Hasan to become Bangladesh's all-time leader in T20I fifties, with 14 to his name. Yet the long break seemed to blunt his rhythm. Before the stoppage, he had raced to 42 off just 16 balls; after it, he could add only 31 more from 30 deliveries. He was dismissed in the 15th over, caught off Kyle Klein, having made 73 from 46 balls with four fours and six sixes.

The middle order faltered as Towhid Hridoy scraped 9 from 14 balls and Shamim Hossain managed 21 from 19. But the late partnership between Nurul Hasan and Jaker Ali revived the crowd's excitement. Together they put on an unbeaten 42 from 23 balls, injecting fresh energy into the innings just as the skies intervened once more.

When the rain refused to relent, the innings was cut short at 164 for 4, and the contest brought to a premature close. The spectators might not have got their wish of watching the full 20 overs, but the flurry of strokes—especially from Litton's bat—ensured they still went home with plenty to cheer about.