Malan, locals propel Cumilla

Published at 10:14 pm December 18th, 2019

Rangpur Rangers' Mohammad Nabi is cleaned up during their BBPL match against Cumilla Warriors in Chittagong Wednesday Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik

A team effort saw Cumilla bag their second win of the season in three matches after a six-wicket victory against Rangpur at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium

The special edition of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 was termed important for the Bangladesh cricketers.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board national selection panel had its eyes wide open on the performance of the local cricketers in order to set the track for the World T20I next year in Australia.

Wednesday, members of the national selection surely had their attention on the game between Cumilla Warriors and Rangpur Rangers.

A team effort saw Cumilla bag their second win of the season in three matches after a six-wicket victory against Rangpur at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.

And the action down in the middle must have been a pleasure for the Bangladesh national think tank as Soumya Sarkar and Sabbir Rahman rose to the occasion for Cumilla in pursuit of 182 runs.

Both Soumya and Sabbir played crucial roles, scoring 40-odd each chasing the big target, and were well supported by English batsman Dawid Malan and some quick-hitting at the top by opener Bhanuka Rajapaksa.

Technical glitches have been part of the Bangabandhu @BCBtigers Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 and it was no different on the first day of the Chittagong phase Tuesday.https://t.co/41b0t8k2HA #BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #BANGLADESHCRICKET #BBPLT20 #BBPL #BPL
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) December 17, 2019

Left-handed batsman Soumya was promoted to open and he made the best use of the opportunity, adding 41 off 34 balls after a positive first wicket stand with Rajapaksa.

The duo added 61 in six overs for the opening stand before Rajapaksa perished to captain Mohammad Nabi for a 15-ball 32.

Soumya was then joined by Sabbir, who was due some runs after failing in the first two matches.

The duo fired in unison adding 29 quickfire runs for the second wicket.

Right-arm seamer Mukidul Islam removed Soumya to leave Cumilla reeling on 90 for the loss of two wickets in 11.1 overs.

Sabbir had started slow but soon recovered and stitched together 56 with Malan for the third wicket.

The Chittagong phase of the Bangabandhu @BCBtigers Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 is set to kick-off Tuesday, with Khulna Tigers taking on Rajshahi Royals in the afternoon game at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium.https://t.co/brseCQLSdK #BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #BPL
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) December 16, 2019

Sabbir soon ran out of luck, getting dismissed for 49 off 40 deliveries from an ambitious shot that was driven from the need of maintaining the required run rate.

Malan remained unbeaten on a 24 ball 42 as Cumilla cruised to the shore after Dasun Shanaka added a quick 12 off seven balls.

A dejected Rangpur walked out of the field after their third loss in as many attempts saw them languishing at the bottom of the seven-team standing with zero points from three games.

Earlier, batting first, wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad got Rangpur off to a sizzling start with 61 coming off just 27 balls with seven boundaries and four over boundaries, while Nabi and Somerset’s Tom Abell added 26 and 25 respectively as the Rangers posted a competitive total.

Young opener Mohammad Naim had come into the game after a half-century in the previous fixture.

However, the left-handed batsman could not hold onto the momentum, adding just eight to the board, while left-arm Mustafizur Rahman also remained below-par for Rangpur later in the game, picking up a wicket conceding 35 runs in his quota of four overs.

11TH MATCH, RRvCW

RANGPUR RANGERS INNINGS R B

Shahzad c Shanaka b Sanjamul 61 27

Naim run out (Sabbir) 8 10

Abell c Al-Amin b Soumya 25 25

Al-Amin run out (Haider) 1 4

Nabi b Mujeeb 26 20