Bangabandhu Cup T20 Tournament 
19th Match: Gazi Group Chattogram VS Minister Group Rajshahi, Played at SBNCS, Dhaka 
Chattogram 175/4 (Soumya Sarkar 63, Liton Das 55, Shamsur Rahman 30*, Anisul Islam Emon 2/21) beat Minister Group Rajshahi 139/8 (Nurul Hasan 28, Mehedi 26, Nahidul Islam 3/19, Ziaur Rahman 2/17) by 36 runs

Player of the Match: Nahidul Islam. 

In the must win match Rajshahi looking listless all the way lost to dynamic Chattogram by 36 runs.  Rajshahi for best known to the team think tank did not choose the right combination, bowled and fielded poorly. They batting had no plan. 

Batting first Chattogram exploiting the weak bowling and atrocious fielding of Rajshahi posted an impressive score of 175/4. Rajshahi batted awfully fully and never looked like chasing the target. They finished scoring 139/8. Losing by 36 they dropped at the bottom of the point’s table. Only a big loss of Barisal in the last match against Dhaka can give Rajshahi lifeline. Chattogram winning 7 out 8 matches finished sky high of the rest. Rajshahi won only the first two matches and lost 6 on the trot. 

The major weakness of Rajshahi is bowling. Still in the do and die match they rested Ebadat and Farhad Reza. Why Rajshahi kept experienced Ashraful on the bench? How many better batsmen they have played? Why did Nazmul Hossain did not bat after winning the toss? 

Chattogram innings was based on flamboyant opening pair Soumya Sarkar (63) and Liton Das (55) putting together 122 in the first wicket. Star shone on Soumya on the day. He could be out in the very first over of Saifuddin.   First his edge fell just short of the slip. Then Wicket keeper did not appeal. Soumya and Liton from there on punished Rajshahi bowlers. Their running between the wicket was treat to watch. Soumya went on scoring 63 in 48 deliveries striking 3 fours and 4 sixes. Liton looked classic scoring 55 off 43 deliveries. Towards the end Shamsur Rahman producing an unbeaten innings of 30 in 18 deliveries took the score to175/4. Anisul Islam Emon took 2 wickets giving away 21 runs.

Rajshahi in reply did not look like mentally ready for giving their best try to chase. Such a chase required openers giving good steady start. Rajshahi batting is thin. Still, they overlooked Ashraful. Shanto and Emon both failed. Nahidul removed both. He also Rony Talukdar. By 6th over at 3/33 Rajshahi was almost out of the race. The innings never got the momentum. 

Chattogram attack proved by far the best in the tournament. Rajshahi kept on losing wickets regularly. They could reach 139/8.  I would again mention Rajshahi should have played Farhad Reza and Ashraful on the day. They are quality players and have experience for absorbing pressure of crunch matches. 

Batting of Liton and Soumya was the feature of the match. 

BDST: 1652 HRS, DEC 12, 2020
SMS