Cumilla demolishes Rangpur to record second victory in BBPL
Photo - BCB , Roton Gomes
|| CF Correspondent ||
Cumilla Warriors batsmen came up with yet another sterling batting show to record their second victory in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL), as they clinched a comprehensive six-wicket victory over Rangpur Rangers in their first match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Wednesday.
While Cumilla clinched second victory in third match, for Rangpur it was their third straight defeat in the tournament.
This was however another high scoring game at the port city ground where the batsmen got a reason to cheer up. But Cumilla batsmen were more compact than the Rangpur, which made the eventual difference.
Rangpur Rangers chose to bat first and compiled a big total of 181-8, thanks to a whirlwind 27 ball-61 of Mohammad Shahza but that still couldn’t halt their losing streak as Cumilla, on the back of some brilliant batting display from their top order gunned it down with two overs to spare, making 182-4. And thereby Rangpur tasted their third defeat in a row.
Sabbir Rahman made the highest score for Cumilla with 40 ball-49, studded by three fours and two sixes while Soumya Sarkar blasted 41 off 34 with five fours and one six. But Dawid Malan was the eventual hero, playing a 24 ball-42 runs not out, smashing two fours and three sixes. The knock was catalyst in Cumilla’s victory at the end.
Soumya and Bhanuka Rajapaksa gave the side a quick start that needed to gun down such big total as they combined for a 61 runs for the opening stand in just six overs. Rajapaksa particularly was in destructive mood, smashing 15 ball-32 four fours and two sixes before being dismissed by Rangpur captain Mohammad Nabi.
Sabbir and Soumya kept up the run flow to keep the side in hunt. Mukidul removed Soumya before Mustafizur Rahman gave his side a glimmer of hope to win the match, by getting rid of Sabbir with Cumilla at 146-2 in 17th over.
Dawid Malan then gave the finishing touch in an impeccable batting show, aided by captain Dasun Shanaka as Cumilla needed 11 runs to win the last over. Malan hit first ball six to make the task easier and even though Rangpur got the better of Shanaka (12) in that over, Malan struck another four through long-on region to confirm the victory with two balls to spare.
Rangpur had a shaky start as they lost opener Naim Sheikh cheaply but Shahzad and Tom Abell kept the side scoreboard running with free-flowing batting.
After Abell’s dismissal following a run-a-ball-25, Shahzad went on berserk to lay the platform of big total. Shahzad struck seven fours and four sixes in his 61 off 27. Skipper Mohammad Nabi was the other notable scorer with 26 off 20, hitting three fours. Lewis Gregory made some lusty blow towards the end as he clattered 21 off 12 to ensure the team would end on a high. But on a day when Cumilla’s batsmen were so compact, their effort went in vain.
