Taskin Ahmed starred as Bangladesh hammered the Netherlands by eight wickets in the first of the three T20 internationals in Sylhet on Saturday. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed returned with figures of 4-28, breaking Shakib Al Hasan’s record for most wickets by a Bangladeshi against the Netherlands, as Bangladesh kept the visitors to 136-8, a total their batters overhauled in just 13.3 overs.
Taskin now has 12 wickets against the Netherlands, bettering Shakib’s tally of 11 wickets. Skipper Litton Das, 54 not out, and Saif Hassan, unbeaten on 36, helped the hosts race to victory.
Bangladesh, who recently won a home T20 series against Pakistan, maintained their momentum ahead of the T20 Asia Cup starting September 9 in the United Arab Emirates. The Netherlands, who have already qualified for next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, are without several key players including all-rounders Bas de Leede and Roelof van der Merwe.
De Leede is injured while Van der Merwe and Logan van Beek are also missing. Max O’Dowd struck 23 and fellow opener Teja Nidamanuru top-scored with 26 but the Dutch lost regular wickets after being put in to bat. Taskin Ahmed took a wicket in each of his first two overs before off-spinner Saif struck twice in one over, including the scalp of Scott Edwards for 12. In reply, Bangladesh lost an early wicket but Litton put on 66 runs with Tanzid Hasan, who made 29.
Bangladesh’s pace spearhead Taskin Ahmed said his team was caught off guard by the dew in Sylhet’s hot weather. The hosts won the opener against Netherlands by eight wickets, built on Taskin Ahmed’s four-wicket burst and a breezy half-century from Litton Kumar Das.
Taskin Ahmed after his 4-fer is confident regarding rediscovering his rhythm ahead of Asia Cup 2025
Taskin Ahmed starred for Bangladesh as they defeated the Netherlands by eight wickets in the first of the three-match T20I series on August 30, 2025. The hosts chased down the target with 39 balls to spare, thanks to Taskin’s four-wicket haul that restricted the visitors to a modest 136/8.
The right-arm pacer was lethal with the new ball, dismissing both Dutch openers – Max O’Dowd and Vikramjit Singh – early in the innings. Returning for a second spell, he struck in the 16th over by sending back Kyle Klein before removing Noah Croes in his next over. Taskin Ahmed finished with excellent figures of 4/28 from his four overs at an economy rate of 7.00.
In reply, Bangladesh had little trouble chasing the target. Skipper Litton Das anchored the innings with an unbeaten 54, while Saif Hassan supported him with an unbeaten 36, sealing a comfortable victory for the home side.
After the game, Taskin Ahmed expressed satisfaction with his execution.Bangladesh’s pace spearhead Taskin Ahmed said his team was caught off guard by the dew in Sylhet’s hot weather. The hosts won the opener against Netherlands by eight wickets, built on Taskin Ahmed’s four-wicket burst and a breezy half-century from Litton Kumar Das.
“I’ve worked really hard over the past few weeks in training and still a long way to go and I’m following the process. As a fast bowler, I definitely want to bowl as fast as I can. But it’s important to bowl according to the situation. I bowled at the beginning, in the middle and then at the death.
“I tried to bowl how the situation demanded. I could execute well. In T20Is, even good deliveries can go for a boundary. But tonight, it went well overall and could execute the variations properly.”
The pacer, who suffered an Achilles injury during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 earlier this year, also reflected on his recovery journey.
“Alhamdulillah, getting better. I returned with the Sri Lanka series after injury but struggled a bit there (with my rhythm) but I’m getting better. he added.
The second T20 is on Monday at the same venue and Bangladesh would like to win the series to mark their preparation for Asia Cup 2025.