DHAKA, Dec 18, 2019 (BSS)- Cumilla Warriors demonstrated yet another compact batting performance to clinch their second straight victory in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) recording an effortless six-
wicket victory over Rangpur Rangers in another high-scoring game at the Zahur
Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram today.
Electing to bat first, Rangpur Rangers posted a respectable 181-8, thanks
to a whirlwind 27 ball-61 of Mohammad Shahza but that still couldn’t halt
their losing streak while 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. Mujee Ur Rahman claimed
2-25 in four overs for Cumilla.