Sabbir leads Bangladesh HP to second straight win in Top End Series

Sabbir Rahman smashed a half-century as Bangladesh HP secured a three-wicket victory over Hobart Hurricanes Academy in the Top End T20 Series at Marrara Oval in Darwin on Sunday.

Playing on the same pitch where Bangladesh’s national team recorded a famous Test win against Australia last week, the HP side fought back from 36-3 to chase down Hobart’s 153 with two balls to spare.

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Chasing 154 for victory, Bangladesh HP lost wickets at regular intervals, but Sabbir held the innings together with a composed 45-ball 59, featuring six fours and two sixes. He fell at the end of the 15th over, but his knock had laid the foundation for the Irfan Shukkur-led side to complete the chase.

The victory was Bangladesh HP’s second of the tournament following their nine-wicket win over Nepal A, leaving them level at the top of the table with New Zealand A, who have also won two matches.

Bangladesh HP’s chase got off to a poor start, with their top three dismissed inside the Powerplay. Opener Habibur Rahman Sohan was dismissed for four and his partner Jisan Alam made nine, while Ariful Haque contributed four. Captain Irfan Shukkur also scored four runs as Bangladesh HP slipped to 60-4 after seven overs. 

Sabbir then put Bangladesh back on course, adding a crucial 46-run fifth-wicket partnership with Shamim Hossain. Shamim made 16 off 24 balls before departing, while Sabbir went on to complete his fifty but left the job unfinished when he was dismissed at the end of the 15th over, with Bangladesh HP needing 40 runs from the final five overs.

SM Mehrob added 13 off 14 balls before Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, unbeaten on 19 off 13 balls, and Abu Hider Rony, unbeaten on eight, took Bangladesh over the line. Needing six runs to win from the final over, Rony crunched a Gabe Bell delivery through cover-point for four before sealing victory with two balls to spare.

Earlier, Shukkur won the toss and elected to bowl. Hobart Hurricanes Academy struggled early, losing Jake Doran for six off four balls and Radhakrishna for seven off five. Bradley Hope then departed for 17, leaving the Australian side in trouble.

Teague Wyllie, however, anchored the innings and kept scoring despite wickets falling around him. He reached fifty and finished unbeaten on 78, while captain Tim Ward made 15 and Raf McMillan scored 11 as Hobart Hurricanes Academy posted 153-7 in 20 overs.

Off-spinner Mohammad Rubel was Bangladesh HP’s leading wicket-taker with three wickets (3-25), while Ripon Mondol claimed two (2-34). Abu Hider and Saqlain took one wicket apiece.