Bangabandhu T20 Cup Tournament 
18th Match
Gazi Group Chattogram VS Fortune Group Barisal 

Played at SBNCS, Dhaka on 10 December 2020 
CTGRM 153/3 in 18.4 Overs (Soumya Sarkar 62, Shykat Ali 39, Mahmudul Hasan Joy 31*, Sumon Khan 2/30) beat BRSAL 149/6 (Saif Hasan 46, Tamim Iqbal 43, Afif Hossain 28*, Mosaddeq Hossain 2/18, Sanjit Saha 2/22, Ziaur Rahman 2/25) by 7 wickets
Player of the Match: Soumya Sarkar 

Even the second string Chattogram attack resting Mustafiz and Shariful Islam was proved good enough for prevailing over desperate Barisal. Chattogram even rested key batsman Liton K Das. Even then Barisal could not match. Batting first they managed a below par score of 149/6.Chattogram overhauled with ease scoring 153/3 in 18.4 overs winning by 7 wickets. This took Chattogram sky high above the rest with 10 points. Rajshahi stays at the bottom with 4 points. The last two group matches between Chattogram VS Rajshahi and Dhaka VS Barisal would now decide which two between Barisal and Rajshahi joins Chattogram, Khulna and Dhaka for the knock out round and eliminators. Circumstance is ripe for cricket trading. Hope all eyes would remain open to police. 

It appeared having a view at the playing XI that Chattogram provided opportunity for Barisal trying and winning as the lethal bowling combination of Mustafiz and Shariful which tormented Dhaka in the first round was rested. Opener Saif Hasan (46) and Tamim Iqbal (43) produced a solid platform of 87 for the first wicket. It appeared that Barisal would make hay while the sun was shining. But that was never to be. Neither could bat deep. Both were removed by spinner Mosaddeq. Tamim again was the sinner by his own admission. He was heard recently that in T20 any set batsman commits a sin getting out after scoring 30 or 40. From a score of 2/100 in the 13th over Barisal could only add 49 in the last 7 overs.  That score was not defendable especially as dew came making bowling challenging. Flamboyant Emon who blasted a brilliant aggressive century only the other day could not kick on. A team that chased and scored 221 could not repeat the batting when urgently needed. Mosaddeq (2/16), Sanjit Saha (2/22) and Ziaur Rahman (2/25) restricted Barisal. 

Shykat Ali (39) and sent in to bat along with Soumya Sarkar (62) in absence of Liton. The two producing patient 79 for the first wicket laid the foundation. Shykat got out scoring 39 but Soumya stayed long enough producing yet another good innings of 62 in 37 deliveries. Mahmud Hasan Joy playing an unbeaten innings of 31 made sure that there was no drama. Chattogram won easily scoring 153/3 with 1.2 overs left.
 
One only hopes that the last two group matches keeping the spirit of cricket high, as those would decide which team joins the top three. 

BDST: 1225 HRS, DEC 11, 2020
AP