Bangladesh lost to South Africa, more precisely left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, in the last over and were denied a win that was up for grabs in New York Monday.
As it happened, the Tigers faced a four-run defeat to the Proteas as they failed to score 11 runs off the last over bowled by Maharaj.
Amid the nail-biting situation, the first two balls of the over fetched Bangladesh two runs, including a wide.
But disaster struck first after Jaker Ali Anik (eight) failed to clear a low full toss and got caught at long-on.
In the second last ball, Mahmudullah (20) received a full toss as well and went for the glory shot only to come up short once again.
The ball landed safely in the hands of South Africa captain Aiden Markram standing at long-on.
Taskin Ahmed (one not out) was on strike when six runs were needed for the win.
Maharaj released another full toss, this time a high one, which Taskin was unable to connect well.
Bangladesh in Group D will now look at the last two games if they want to get to the Super 8 stage of the Twenty20 World Cup.
Having won their first game of the tournament, against Sri Lanka by two wickets in Dallas, Bangladesh though have some cushion.
At Saint Vincent, Bangladesh will play the Netherlands and Nepal this Thursday and next Monday respectively.
From what it was ahead of the tournament, the morale of the team has definitely been boosted, given that they have a win and that they had almost won against South Africa.
The men in red and green were drenched in criticism for losing a T20 International series to a lower-ranked USA due to underperforming top-order batters.
The side have revived the reputation a bit but concerns with top-order batting remained.
Against South Africa, Bangladesh made one change – Jaker replacing the out-of-form Soumya Sarkar.
Tanzid Hasan and skipper Nazmul Hossain Shanto (14) opened the innings but that did not work out.
Tanzid perished on nine in the second over of the match.
Liton Das at No 3 could add only nine to the tally while Shakib al Hasan, batting at No 4, also failed, scoring just three.
Mahmudullah and Towhid Hridoy took charge with Bangladesh reeling on 50 for four in 9.5 overs.
The controversial surface at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium behaved well as the duo milked runs almost at run-a-ball to take Bangladesh close to the shore.
The fifth wicket partnership added 44 before Hridoy got pinned in front of the stumps by Kagiso Rabada in the 18th over.
The right-handed middle-order batter scored 37 off 34 laced with two fours and as many sixes.
In the last two overs, Bangladesh required 18 runs.
Right-arm medium fast bowler Ottneil Baartman kept over number 19 quiet, giving away just seven runs, and handed the opportunity to Maharaj to grab the glory.
Earlier, Bangladesh bowlers were impressive, holding South Africa to just 113 for six in 20 overs.
This was the result of a fiery start provided by right-arm pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib.
Tanzim was on point in the first over, removing Reeza Hendricks for a golden duck and when he returned in the third over, dismissed Quinton de Kock on 18.
The 21-year old got another wicket in his third over, that of Tristan Stubbs (nought), to leave the Proteas tottering on 23 for four as Taskin had removed Markram (four) before this.
David Miller (29) and Heinrich Klaasen recovered the debacle, adding a run-a-ball 79 to the board.
The partnership was broken in the 18th over when Taskin cleaned up Klaasen for a 44-ball 46.
21ST MATCH
South Africa 113/6 (Klaasen 46, Tanzim 3/18) beat Bangladesh 109/7 (Hridoy 37, Maharaj 3/27) by 4 runs