Soumya, Liton blazed away the tourist
Image : Cricfrenzy
|| CF Correspondent ||
Bangladesh opener Liton Kumar and one-down Soumya Sarkar came up with blazing fifties aided by disciplined bowling helped the host earn a 48-run win over Zimbabwe in the two-match Twenty20 series opener at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday.
Soumya scored unbeaten 62 runs after Liton came up with 39-ball 59 as Bangladesh rack up a mammoth 200-3 and later the tourist were bundled out for 152 runs in 19 overs to give the host a 1-0 lead in the series.
Leg-spinner Aminul Islam grabbed 3-34 while left-arm pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman picked 3-32 to help the host push their opponents back against the wall.
Soumya smashed his career-best 32 ball-62 not out, clobbering 4 fours and fives while Liton Das smoked 59 off 39 with five fours and three sixes as
Bangladesh posted their highest total against Zimbabwe, eclipsing 175-7 in Chattogram last year in a tri-nation tournament. This was also their third best T20 total.
After he was being asked to bat first, Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal gave Bangladesh a fluent start, sharing 92-run partnership, also the best opening partnership in their shortest format of cricket history.
Tamim Iqbal, who was appointed as new ODI captain of Bangladesh, made a 33 ball-41, hitting three fours and two sixes before debutant Wesley Madhevere dismissed him for his maiden T20 wicket.
Sikandar Raza then stalled Bangladesh’s progress, having removed Liton Das after he brought up his third T20 fifty, forcing Bangladesh to loss two openers in the space of 14 runs.
Mushfiqur Rahim though kept up the run flowing when Soumya made a slow start. However, Chris Mpofu had Mushfiqur caught by Sean Williams after his 17 off eight deliveries, leaving Bangladesh 146-3 in 16th over.
After Mushfiqur’s departure, there was doubt whether Bangladesh could take the score past 200 but Soumya’s blistering knocked quelled all the apprehension.
He and skipper Mahmudullah Riyad took the Zimbabwe bowlers in disdain to share 54 off just 25 for an unbroken fourth wicket stand to help Bangladesh finally touch 200 runs mark.
Soumya in fact struck 19 runs of 20 in the last over including three sixes to help Bangladesh’s cause and also brought up his only second T20 half-century.
