Chattogram crush lackluster Dhaka by nine wickets

A sensational bowling display and a tremendous batting performance from Gazi Group Chattogram handed Beximco Dhaka their second consecutive defeat in the Bangabandhu T20 Cup. Chattogram cruised along and reached the small target of 89 losing just one wicket, thus winning by nine wickets with 55 balls to spare.

Chasing a small total, Gazi Group Chattogram openers Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das took the attack to the bowlers right from the word go. Soumya was particularly aggressive while Liton started in a more subdued manner. They put on a 79-run opening stand off 58 balls before Liton perished after scoring a run-a-ball 34. But Soumya stayed unbeaten at one end and ensured that Chattogram did not lose more wickets. Soumya scored 44 not out off 29, hitting four fours and two sixes.

Earlier, Beximco Dhaka, after being put in to bat, were not off the best of starts as opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim was caught at the first slip off Shoriful Islam, Tamim's teammate in the under-19 team. Sabbir Rahman was promoted up the order but the right hander did not get going at all. Pressure was building on him and he tried to break the shackles, only succeeding in throwing his wicket away. He did not bother the scorers even after playing 10 deliveries.

Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, coming in at four, surprisingly opted to play a reverse sweep in his very first delivery and paid the price as he was caught at the first slip by Soumya Sarkar off off-spinner Nahidul Islam, leaving his team reeling at 21 for three.

Opener Naim Sheikh and Akbar Ali tried to bail the team out of trouble. The former played some delightful strokes including two sixes off Taijul Islam and one off Mustafizur Rahman. These two put on 44 off 27 before Mosaddek Hossain cleaned up Akbar with his off-spin. Mosaddek, in the same over, got rid of the dangerous Naim Sheikh in the same fashion. His 23-ball-40 was studded with three fours and equal number of sixes.

Abu Hider Rony, who was sent in at number seven ahead of Muktar Ali, perished soon as he was trapped leg before by Taijul Islam. His dismissal was followed by Shahadat Hossain Dipu's wicket, who managed only 2 off 13 balls. His dismissal left Dhaka tottering at 71 for seven.

Nasum Ahmed hit a six over midwicket off Taijul Islam but fell soon after he nicked the ball to wicketkeeper Liton Das off Soumya Sarkar. Rubel Hossain soon followed him as he was clean bowled by Taijul Islam, who claimed two scalps.

Muktar Ali was the last man to go as he sliced the ball to Mominul Haque who took the catch eventually after fumbling three times. 

Mosaddek Hossain was the pick of the bowlers who picked up two wickets, giving away only nine runs in two overs. Mustafizur Rahman, Taijul Islam and Shoriful Islam took two apiece while Nahidul Islam and Soumya Sarkar chipped in with one wicket each.

Brief scores: Beximco Dhaka 88 (Naim 40, Akbar 15, Muktar 12, Mosaddek 2/9, Shoriful 2/10, Mustafizur 2/13)
Gazi Group Chattogram 90/1 (Soumya 44*, Liton 34,  Mominul 8, Nasum 1/5)P