Bangladesh suffers 2nd defeat; Pakistan reaches final
Hosts Bangladesh suffered 2nd consecutive defeat in the ICRC T20 International Cricket Tournament for Physically Disabled after conceding a three wicket defeat against Afghanistan at BKSP ground-3 in Savar on Monday.
Bangladesh made a good start beating England by 14 runs in the opening match, but lost to Pakistan by 20 runs in the next match, UNB reports.
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In the day’s other match at BKSP ground-4, Pakistan reached the final in the five-nation meet beating their arch-rival India by 43 runs. This was the 3rd victory for Pakistan in their 4th and last league match.
At BKSP ground-3, Bangladesh batted first after winning the toss and scored 119 for 6 in stipulated 20 runs after losing two quick wickets within first three overs.
Like the previous match, Amin Uddin took the responsibility to recover early damage scoring 26 runs off 27 balls to the team total, followed by a swift cameo from Apurbo Kumar (19).
But, middle order batsman Shahriar Shamim, came to crease in difficult situation and scored his first fifty in the tournament contributing the match highest unconquered 56 runs off 47 balls with five fours and two big sixes in the last two balls of innings to guide Bangladesh making a face-saving total of 119 for 6 in 20 overs.
Tufail bowled extremely well maintaining good line and length and did not allow the Bangladesh batsmen to free their arms with a economical bowling figures of 4-0-10-1, Sherin also assisting him very well with another good figure of 4-0-11-1.
Abdullah and Mohammadullah also contributed equally well grabbing two wickets each for 19 and 22 runs respectively.
In reply, Afghanistan scored the match-winning 120 for the loss of seven wickets in 19.1 overs with five balls to spare.
Opener Mohammadullah was the star with the bat for Afghanistan contributing 30-bll 32 runs hitting two huge sixes and was adjudged Man of the Match.
Besides, Sangar (not out 19), Obaidullah (16), Ashraf (13) and Tufail (11) were the other major contributors for Afghanistan.
Drupon of Bangladesh captured two wickets for 19 runs while Amin Uddin, Sanaullah, A Khan and Nasir took one wicket each.
In the day’s other match at BKSP Ground-4, sent into bat first, Pakistan, started batting aggressively to score the tournament highest total of 174 for 6 in quota 20 overs.
Hasnain Alam played with aggression to score 39 runs from 25 balls. Rehan Ghani made another commendable innings of 34 runs in 28 balls, followed by the wicket keeper Danish, who made 26 runs off just 15 balls and Nihar made 20 runs off 9 balls to score 174/6.
India needed to bat excessively well to chase this score under the heat, but the ‘Men in Blues’ failed to do so.
The Indians started off well to pick up 50 in the eight overs, keeping the momentum on for a considerable period of their innings, but at the same time, they kept losing wickets.
India needed 45 runs to win in the 18th over with 3 wickets in hand, but Fayyaz was greatly instrumental in that over, registering a hat-trick from the last three balls of his over, the first of the tournament.
India, thus were bowled out for 131 after 19 overs. Fayyaz Ahmed displayed another day of great bowling with figures of 4-0-14-4, and named as the Man of the Match.
Tomorrow (September 8, 2015) will be a very important day for the rest of the teams, as all of them will be looking for a spot in the Final of the tournament.
Bangladesh to play India and England will face Afghanistan on Tuesday to decide another finalist.
England are already at a strong zone, and rest three teams will have to play out of their comfort zone to achieve the spot, but if England wins their match, they are through for a Final against Pakistan.