Showing a steely resolve in batting, Bangladesh secured a comprehensive seven-wicket win over of Australian Big Bash team Sydney Sixers in the first warm up game at North Sydney Oval yesterday.
The T20 game was curtailed and reduced to an eight-over affair following a rain-break but that didn’t dent the mood of the Bangladesh who fielded a XI sans Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal and Mustafizur Rahman, the three big stars of the country.
Sydney Sixers compiled a strong total of 169 for nine but the rain break meant Bangladesh got a target of 84 in eight overs which they gunned down with eight balls to spare.
With almost 11 runs needed per over, Bangladesh batsmen showed a great judgment of hunting down the total. After preventing Sydney Sixers from making a big score than the scoreboard showed with his three scalps in an over, Soumya Sarkar led the batting with a 9 ball-20 with three fours and one six, which took the pressure off from the asking run rate. He and Imrul Kayes made a whirlwind start, taking 17 runs in the first over.
But situation got complicated when Chhibber removed both of the openers in the space of just three runs to leave Bangladesh 32 for two. Kayes made 12. Soon it became 34 for three with Carters got rid of Sabbir for on 1.
Bangladesh felt the heat. However Mahmudullah Riyad and Mushfiqur Rahim ensured there would be no hiccup on Bangladesh’s comfortable victory.
Both of them made the Sydney players busy, taking the bowlers in disdain. Riyad hammered an unbeaten 13 ball-28, smashing three fours and two sixes while Mushfiqur hit two fours in his 15 off eight as they shared an undefeated 50 runs to sail the side home.
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza opted to bowl first in what was the first game for his side in the tour Down Under. The decision seemed to have backfired with the Sixers openers made a boisterous start to leave the Bangladesh in precarious situation.
Jason Roy and Dan Hughes were phenomenal in this period, scoring runs in quick succession and in no time combined for a 73-run partnership.
On his first over, Mehedi Hasan Miraj gave the side a much-need breakthrough, having claimed Hughes who scored 47 off 31 with eight fours. Left arm spinner Taijul Islam kept up the pressure by removing Brad Haddin for six.
However Taskin Ahmed dealt a mighty blow on his second spell. After faring too badly in the first spell, Taskin came back strongly with the wicket of Roy who was his usual in attacking mode. English opener Roy hammered 23 ball-42 with five fours and two sixes.
Roy’s dismissal effectively stemmed the run flow and Bangladesh gradually clawed back into the game. Taskin however helped Bangladesh take the upperhand of the match with the wicket of Sam Billings in the next over.
Jordan Silk held together the innings for Sixers but Bangladesh bowlers continued making inroads. After steering the side through the torrid period, Silk was set to unleash an attack in the death overs.
It was the time when Soumya was handed the bowling. It was a punt from Mashrafe Bin Mortaza but that worked really well. Soumya showed his skill with ball to become the most successful bowler by snapping three wickets at the last over of the innings. His bowling figure was like 1-0-5-3.
Taskin Ahmed though was expensive, giving away 38 runs in four overs, his two scalps in the crucial period helped the side hit back into the game. Taijul Islam also took two for 38 in four overs.