Shanaka hits 23-ball fifty as Cumilla beat Rangpur

Dasun Shanaka’s whirlwind 31-ball 75 steered Cumilla Warriors to post a massive 105-run victory over Rangpur Rangers in the second match on the opening day of the Akash-DTH Bangabandhu-Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in Mirpur yesterday.

Chasing the stiff target of 174, Rangpur made a good start thanks to their openers as their opener scored 12 runs from second over, but Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman provided the breakthrough for Cumilla Warriors when he was accountable for Mohammad Shahzad, who got out for 13 off eight balls with two sixes.

Mohammad Naim Sheik strived to build a big partnership with Jahurul Islam Omi, but pacer Abu Haider compounded the fuss removing Jahurul cheaply. Pacer Al Amin later struck a double blow that slumped them further from 33-2 to 34-4 from where they did not bounce back as wickets were falling at regular intervals. Al Amin was in for a hat-trick chance, getting rid of Fazle Mahmud and Lewis Gregory in his two successive deliveries. Mohammad Nabi, though defended the third ball, failed to stop the rut.

The captain threw the team in a tattering situation having caught by Dawid Malan off Soumya Sarkar, whose medium pace bowling was lethal for the team towards the end. Soumya later had Mohammad Naim Sheik for 17, the highest scorer for Rangpur. Later, Sunzamul Islam picked two wickets, while Rangpur were sprawling at 57 for eight. Al Amin Hossain bagged his third wicket removing Junaid Khan. Zakir Hasan was the last batsman, who finally couldn’t come to bat due to his injury. As a result, their innings got restricted to a paltry total of 68 in 14 overs.

Al Amin among the bowlers was the most successful bowler, giving away 14 runs to snap up three wickets. He was ably aided by Soumya Sarkar and Sunzamul Islam, the latter duo shared two wickets apiece for the winners. Dasun Shanaka was adjudged player of the match for his eye-catching batting devastation.

Earlier, Cumilla Warriors captain Dasun Shanaka opted to bat first after winning the toss of the second match of the opening day on Mirpur’s dew-drenched pitch. They lost Yasir Ali Chowdhury before opening the accounts when Mohammad Nabi rattled the stumps with his first delivery of the innings.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa tried to bear the brunt of the initial hiccup with Soumya, who was sublime from the beginning with bat. He was building up a good partnership, but gave a catch to substitute fielder Rishad Hossain off Mustafizur Rahman.

Soumya, who returned home from Nepal on Tuesday after playing in the just-concluded XIII South Asian Games-2019, where Bangladesh won gold medals in both men’s and women’s cricket event that broke the erstwhile gold medal tally of Bangladesh, made 26 off 18 with four fours and a six.

Just six runs later, spinner Sanjit Saha Deep finally pinned down Bhanuka Rajapaksa lbw. Rangpur skipper Mohammad Nabi took a review after the umpires rejected Sanjit’s emphatic appeal for lbw. Later it’s seen in TV reply that the ball was on the pitch and hit the stumps that forced umpire to put up his finger for out.

Dawid Malan (25) then attempted to accelerate the run-rate and pulled together 37 with Sabbir Rahman Rumman (19) for fourth-wicket stand before his caught behind. At this stage, the Warriors witnessed a mini-collapse with Malan’s exit as they lost three wickets in the space of five runs, while they were stuttering at 89 for six in 13.5 overs.

Dasun Shanaka, therefore, raised a store with his bat. He hit a long distance six to complete his half-century just from 23 balls. After 17 overs, Cumilla were 108-7 from where they scored 65 runs from just three overs. They put on 18 runs from Gregoty, 19 from Mustafizur Rahman and 20 from Junaid Khan’s last over.

Shanaka clubbed shots across the park to be remained unbeaten on 75. He clobbered nine sixes along with three fours in his 31-ball blitz that helped them compile a whopping 173 for seven. Pacer Mustafizur Rahman, Lewis Gregory and Sanjit Saha Deep snared a couple of wickets for Rangpur Rangers.

 

Shanaka hits 23-ball fifty as Cumilla beat Rangpur

Dasun Shanakas whirlwind 31-ball 75 steered Cumilla Warriors to post a massive 105-run victory over Rangpur Rangers in the second match on the opening day of the Akash-DTH Bangabandhu-Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in Mirpur yesterday. Chasing the stiff target of 174, Rangpur made a good start thanks to their openers as their opener scored 12 runs from second over, but Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman provided the breakthrough for Cumilla Warriors when he was accountable for Mohammad Shahzad, who got out for 13 off eight balls with two sixes. Mohammad Naim Sheik strived to build a big partnership with Jahurul Islam Omi, but pacer Abu Haider compounded the fuss removing Jahurul cheaply. Pacer Al Amin later struck a double blow that slumped them further from 33-2 to 34-4 from where they did not bounce back as wickets were falling at regular intervals. Al Amin was in for a hat-trick chance, getting rid of Fazle Mahmud and Lewis Gregory in his two successive deliveries. Mohammad Nabi, though defended the third ball, failed to stop the rut. The captain threw the team in a tattering situation having caught by Dawid Malan off Soumya Sarkar, whose medium pace bowling was lethal for the team towards the end. Soumya later had Mohammad Naim Sheik for 17, the highest scorer for Rangpur. Later, Sunzamul Islam picked two wickets, while Rangpur were sprawling at 57 for eight. Al Amin Hossain bagged his third wicket removing Junaid Khan. Zakir Hasan was the last batsman, who finally couldnt come to bat due to his injury. As a result, their innings got restricted to a paltry total of 68 in 14 overs. Al Amin among the bowlers was the most successful bowler, giving away 14 runs to snap up three wickets. He was ably aided by Soumya Sarkar and Sunzamul Islam, the latter duo shared two wickets apiece for the winners. Dasun Shanaka was adjudged player of the match for his eye-catching batting devastation. Earlier, Cumilla Warriors captain Dasun Shanaka opted to bat first after winning the toss of the second match of the opening day on Mirpurs dew-drenched pitch. They lost Yasir Ali Chowdhury before opening the accounts when Mohammad Nabi rattled the stumps with his first delivery of the innings. Bhanuka Rajapaksa tried to bear the brunt of the initial hiccup with Soumya, who was sublime from the beginning with bat. He was building up a good partnership, but gave a catch to substitute fielder Rishad Hossain off Mustafizur Rahman. Soumya, who returned home from Nepal on Tuesday after playing in the just-concluded XIII South Asian Games-2019, where Bangladesh won gold medals in both mens and womens cricket event that broke the erstwhile gold medal tally of Bangladesh, made 26 off 18 with four fours and a six. Just six runs later, spinner Sanjit Saha Deep finally pinned down Bhanuka Rajapaksa lbw. Rangpur skipper Mohammad Nabi took a review after the umpires rejected Sanjits emphatic appeal for lbw. Later its seen in TV reply that the ball was on the pitch and hit the stumps that forced umpire to put up his finger for out. Dawid Malan (25) then attempted to accelerate the run-rate and pulled together 37 with Sabbir Rahman Rumman (19) for fourth-wicket stand before his caught behind. At this stage, the Warriors witnessed a mini-collapse with Malans exit as they lost three wickets in the space of five runs, while they were stuttering at 89 for six in 13.5 overs. Dasun Shanaka, therefore, raised a store with his bat. He hit a long distance six to complete his half-century just from 23 balls. After 17 overs, Cumilla were 108-7 from where they scored 65 runs from just three overs. They put on 18 runs from Gregoty, 19 from Mustafizur Rahman and 20 from Junaid Khans last over. Shanaka clubbed shots across the park to be remained unbeaten on 75. He clobbered nine sixes along with three fours in his 31-ball blitz that helped them compile a whopping 173 for seven. Pacer Mustafizur Rahman, Lewis Gregory and Sanjit Saha Deep snared a couple of wickets for Rangpur Rangers.