Bangabandhu T20 Cup 2020 
15th Match.
Minister Group Rajshahi VS Fortune Group Barisal 
Played at SBNCS, Dhaka on 8 December 2020 
Brief Scorecard: Rajshahi 220/7 (Najmul Hossein Shanto 109, Anisul Islam Emon 69, Kamrul Islam Rabbi 4/49, Sumon Khan 2/43) beat Fortune Group Barisal 

In a do or die match for both Barisal and Rajshahi the former setting few milestones got life line winning by 8 wickets in a high scoring derby.

Batting first Rajshahi posted a mammoth score of 220/7.  Barisal batting even better won the match scoring 221/2 in 18.1 overs.  The manner in which the match was played may raise lot of questions but let us not explore what might have happened in back door parleys. 

The position of Barisal as we know was terrible. With only one win in 5 matches they were languishing at the bottom. For them it was almost like a final. Winning this high scoring match, they got the lifeline.  If they can manage another win, they may even reach knock out at the expense of Rajshahi. On the other hand, after losing four matches on the trot Rajshahi had no option but to win. They left Ashraful resting even on the day. Losing this match their only option surviving is winning their last match against strong Chattogram. Otherwise, Barisal has to loose both their remaining matches by big margin. 

Many milestones like highest target successfully chased. Highest score of the tournament, first two centuries by two batsmen of either side, highest number of sixes by a Bangladeshi batsman, 4 wickets in an over including a hat trick by a Bangladeshi bowler all were seen. 

Cricket admirers were complaining about poor scores in Bangabandhu T20. Some even asked questions whether a Bangladeshi team could score 200 runs in T20.  Many of those questions were answered in the match. Rajshahi produced 220/7 and Barisal successfully chased scoring 211/2. These were by far the highest scores of the tournament. Captain Nazmul Of Rajshahi scored 109 in 55 balls plundering 11 sixes and 4 fours. His opening partner Anisul Islam Emon scored 69 in 39 deliveries. Kamrul Islam Rabbi in the last over picked 4 wickets including a hat trick. I am not sure whether so many milestones have been achieved in one innings of a T20 match anywhere. 

When Barisal batted Tamim and Emon in the 2nd wicket partnership batted brilliantly adding 117 keeping pace with the asking rate. Tamim was unfortunately run out scoring 53 in 37 deliveries. But Emon went on and finished the game unbeaten on 100 in only 42 deliveries with 9 fours and 7 sixes. 

What might have been happened to SBNCS wickets now? On this very wicket in most of past matches teams struggled scoring even 150 in most matches. But on this day batsmen batted carefree plundering the bowling at will all across the wicket. In Rajshahi innings Anisul Emon and Najjmul Shanto appeared with killer's mood. Sixes and fours were flowing like fountains. The pair put on 131 by the 13th over when Emon got out scoring 69. After Emon went Shanto became still more flamboyant. He and Rony Talukdar added 49 for the 2nd wicket. Najmul Shanto kept the momentum going. But once he got out in th 20th over scoring 109 Rabbi took four wickets including a hat trick. Rajshahi finished at 220/7.  As many as 18 sixes and 12 fours were scored in the innings. 

Barisal batted even better. Tamim and Emon in 8.5 overs scored 117 runs in the second wicket partnership taking the match away from Rajshahi. Another 50 runs were scored in 4.5 overs in the unfinished 3rd wicket partnership between Emon and Afif. Barisal could have been virtually out of the tournament if they lost. Not they have got a lifeline to survive. 

Losing 5 matches in a trot the situation of Rajshahi is the most vulnerable now. For survival they must win the last match against strong Chattogram. Otherwise Rajshahi would pay through its nose for any generosity if they have meted out to Barisal at all.  

BDST: 1755 HRS, DEC 08, 2020
SMS