Why Bhutan Lost to Bahrain in the 5th T20I of Bahrain Tour of Bhutan 2025: 3 Key Reasons Behind the Defeat

In Gelephu, for just a brief time frame, it seemed like another of these high-scoring T20 matches was about to be flipped on its head by early bowling losses. Bahrain had lost two players at the scorecard price of two runs. The crowd was involved, and Bhutan’s bowlers were in charge. T20 Cricket is very short-lived and does not have much tolerance for hesitation from teams. Bhutan did not take advantage of what they had gained as the game that they once controlled slipped away, losing by three runs (102) in a chase of five (105) with four deliveries remaining.

A Batting Innings That Never Found Second Gear

A loss was written into the script from Bhutan‘s own perspective in the middle order. On a track where 120 was an average score, 102 left Bhutan with very little room to breathe; therefore, instead of creating pressure through urgency, Bhutan played it safe. Ramesh Limbu was out for a duck in his eighth ball, which put a halt to the power play. Tshering Tashi and Ranjung Mikyo Dorji attempted to rebuild; however, neither remained at the crease long enough to establish any sort of momentum. Jigme Singye scored 18 from 29 balls; this again was typical of the problems that Bhutan experienced. Time went on, and the pressure continued to build, along with the lack of boundary opportunities.

Ali Dawood’s Two-Innings Masterclass Tilted the Game

Each tight T20 match contains a turning point, and Ali Dawood was that pivot. Not only did his four overs at 13 runs provide economy, but they also came at the perfect time. He eliminated the main threat to balance in the game (Singye) before tearing down the tail end of Bhutan’s batting order to prevent an improbable surge from the back-end of the batting order. The loss of each wicket resulted in an approximate loss of five to six runs in Bhutan’s total, ultimately resulting in Bhutan being out of contention for victory. And while Bhutan had hoped their initial momentum would somehow impact the result of the game, Dawood returned with the bat. While Dawood’s 12 not out off 9 balls did not pursue the winning target aggressively, instead, he effectively strangled the life from the game.

Failure to Exploit Early Pressure in the Chase

Almost from the beginning, Bhutan had just about all the pieces of their plan fall into place as they started the inning of Bahrain. The two wickets for two runs that came in the first few overs of the inning should have produced an eventual “choke hold”. Bhutan’s very good bowling by Tashi Phuntsho of 3 for 12 created great discomfort for Bahrain; however, it is safe to say that the pressure was never such that Bahrain was panicked. Sohail Ahmed played this well too; he was able to score 46 runs off 43 balls, and he made sure that the run rate never rose. Bhutan’s bowlers were brought in and out of the game without ever landing a serious blow. Once the target fell under 30 runs in four overs, the game seemed to end as easily as that.

FAQs

Why was Bhutan’s batting the decisive factor in the loss?

They scored too slowly and lost wickets in clusters, leaving no platform to accelerate.

Who was the standout performer in the match?

Ali Dawood, with four wickets and a calm finishing knock.

Did Bhutan miss an opportunity during the chase?

Yes, failing to fully capitalize after reducing Bahrain to 2 for 2 proved costly.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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