High Performance Team Secures Big Win

When Sabbir Rahman chipped a return catch off Junaid Khan's slower ball, the team was in total disarray. The innings was not even 10 overs old, yet half the batting lineup had already been wiped out. Earlier in the morning came news of a major disaster for the national team in Darwin, while back home, the High Performance team was facing an embarrassing situation of their own. Ultimately, however, they turned things around to post a respectable total, before a brilliant display by the spinners sealed a convincing win.

The Bangladesh HP team defeated the Malaysia national team by 89 runs in the first T20 of the two-match series.

Chasing HP's target of 158 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday, Malaysia were bowled out for just 69 runs.

HP team captain SM Meherob Hasan was named Player of the Match for his 40-run knock off 22 balls followed by a wicket with the ball.

Mystery spinner Mohammad Rubel and left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan claimed two wickets each.

Sent in to bat after losing the toss, Bangladesh lost Jishan Alam in the second over itself. After a nervous stay at the crease, he was dismissed for a 7-ball duck.

Jawad Abrar and Ariful Islam showed signs of promise, but neither could capitalize. Ariful (15 off 12 balls) was caught at the boundary trying to flick, while Jawad, who was looking good, chipped a gentle flick straight to short mid-wicket.

Pritom Kumar departed in quick succession (4 off 7 balls). When Sabbir (14 off 12 balls) fell deceivingly to a slower ball, HP were reeling at 73 for 5.

Meherob and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain rescued the side from that precarious position, stitching together a 52-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

Saqlain fell after scoring 42 off 26 balls with three sixes, while Meherob was dismissed in the penultimate over after taking the team further. A six from Mrittunjoy Chowdhury in the final over helped the side push close to 160.

Malaysia struggled right from the start of their run chase. Najmus Sakib was dismissed on the very first ball of the innings. The batsman—who moved from Bangladesh to Malaysia eight years ago in search of a livelihood before making the national team—was bowled attempting to stroke Abu Hider over the top.

The other opener, Aslam Khan, was also bowled after failing to read a delivery from Rubel. Number three batter Ahmad Aqeel scored 29 off 25 balls, but no other batsman managed to cross 15 as Malaysia failed to threaten at any stage.

The Malaysian side is currently coached by former Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore.

The second match of the series will take place at the same venue on Monday.

Brief Scores:

Bangladesh HP: 158 all out in 20 overs (Abrar 28, Jishan 0, Ariful 15, Sabbir 14, Pritom 4, Meherob 40, Saqlain 32, Abu Hider 0, Rakibul 4, Mrittunjoy 9*, Rubel 2; Aziz 3-0-30-0, Arif 3-0-33-1, Vijay 4-0-25-3, Muniandy 2-0-17-2, Maghayar 4-0-23-1, Junaid 4-0-29-2).

Malaysia: 69 all out in 16 overs (Sakib 0, Aslam 0, Aqeel 29, Muniandy 3, Aziz 0, Azyym 15, Azzab 1, Vijay 14, Maghayar 0, Junaid 6, Arif 0*; Abu Hider 2-0-8-1, Rubel 3-0-6-2, Saqlain 4-0-29-1, Rakibul 2-0-2-2, Meherob 2-0-6-1, Mrittunjoy 3-0-17-1).

Result: Bangladesh HP won by 89 runs.

Player of the Match: SM Meherob.