Darwin: The Bangladesh High Performance (HP) squad clinched their third consecutive victory in the Top End T20 tournament, defeating Victoria CA by five wickets at Marrara Oval Ground. This win underscores their dominant form as they remain unbeaten in the nine-team tournament.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Bangladesh national team had previously marked a historic Test win over Australia in Darwin, setting a strong precedent for the HP squad. Riding on this momentum, Bangladesh HP began their campaign with a commanding nine-wicket win over Nepal and followed it up with a three-wicket triumph against Hobart Hurricanes Academy, both at Marrara Oval.
In today's match, Victoria CA opted to bat first but were restricted to 131 in 19.1 overs. Off-spinner Rubel was instrumental with figures of 4-15, while left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan supported with 3-28. Despite a valiant 49 from Victoria's captain Sam Harper and contributions from Will Sutherland and Rogers, the team struggled to establish a strong foothold.
Bangladesh HP's chase was initially precarious, as they stumbled to 37-4 in 7.2 overs. Early dismissals included opener Habibur Rahman in the first over, with Jisan Alam, Ariful Islam, and Sabbir also falling cheaply. Nonetheless, a pivotal partnership between captain Irfan Shukkur and Shamim Patwari turned the tide. Shukkur scored a vital 43 off 32 balls, while Patwari's unbeaten 51 off 33 deliveries, featuring three sixes, sealed the win for HP XI at 136-5 in 17.2 overs.
For Victoria CA, Hoekstra's 2-15 was the highlight of their bowling effort, with Aryan and Elliott picking up one wicket each. Bangladesh HP's unblemished record now positions them at the top of the points table, making them the only unbeaten team in the tournament thus far.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha