Malan aces a stiff chase
The special edition of the Bangabandgu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) was considered a platform for local cricketers to strut their wares and there have been quite a few instances that will have caught the selectors’ eyes.
Cumilla Warriors returned to winning ways with a collective approach against a struggling Rangpur Rangers who, despite posting a substantial 181 for eight, eventually faced a six-wicket defeat in the days’ first game at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram yesterday.
And it was a refreshing sight to see two locals in Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman score some valuable runs and gain confidence, with both batsmen scoring forties.
With two wins in three games, Cumilla will certainly be riding a wave of confidence while Rangpur were still searching for their first win of the tournament, having lost all three matches so far.
The left-handed Soumya, who had gotten starts in the first two games while batting at number three, was promoted to open the innings against Rangpur and the cashed in with a compact display after a handy bowling performance with his medium pace.
Along with Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Soumya provided a flying start, adding 61 runs for the first wicket before the latter was out for 32 off just 15 balls.
Soumya was then joined by Sabbir who, after failing to prove his worth in the first two games, also fired.
Both batsmen would however be disappointed at not being able to finish the game, with Soumya being the first to be dismissed after scoring 41 off 34 balls with five fours and a six. Sabbir hung around to take the chase further before falling one short of his fifty, leaving Dawid Malan to finish it off with an unbeaten 24 ball 42.
For Rangpur, the foreign players starred with Mohammad Shahzad providing a flying start and top-scoring with 61 off just 27 balls, while Mohammad Nabi and Tom Abell chipped in to post the big total. Mustafizur Rahman, however, remained below-par for Rangpur, picking up a wicket for 35 runs.
However, Rangpur’s young right-arm pacer Mukidul Islam impressed on his T20 debut yesterday and picked up a wicket, conceding just 26 runs from four overs.
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