Darwin: Bangladesh A compiled 156-8 against Melbourne Stars in their fifth match of the Top End T20 series at DXC Arena in Darwin, Australia today. A victory in this match is imperative for Bangladesh A to keep the hopes of tournament final alive.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, top-order batter Saif Hasan led the scoring with a team-best 45, while captain Nurul Hasan Sohan contributed 33 runs. Yasir Ali’s quick 29 off 17 balls helped push Bangladesh A’s score past 150. The team faced a rocky start after being sent in to bat first, with Naim Sheikh and Jishan Alam unable to make a significant impact. Naim was dismissed for 19 off 21 balls, while Jishan managed a run-a-ball 13.
Afif Hossain, who had consistently scored over 40 runs in the previous three matches, was out for a duck, adding to Bangladesh A’s early troubles. Saif and Sohan managed to stabilize the innings with a 63-run partnership for the fourth wicket. However, their dismissals in quick succession once again placed Bangladesh A in a challenging position until Yasir’s strong finish gave the team some respite.
Hamish McKenzie was the standout bowler for Melbourne Stars, claiming 3-21. Prior to this match, Bangladesh A had won two and lost two of their first four matches in the tournament.