Rubel impresses amid HP's disappointing Top End T20 mission

Dhaka, 30 Aug - The Bangladesh High Performance (HP) team were knocked out of the Top End T20 after suffering a narrow one-wicket defeat to Victoria Cricket Association in the semifinal in Darwin today after coming here to clinch the trophy.

Until the semifinal, they played impressive cricket to make them hot favourite to win the trophy for the second time.

Led by Irfan Shukkur, Bangladesh HP played seven matches in the tournament, recording five wins in the league phase before their campaign ended in the last four.

The Bangladesh side defeated Australia's Northern Territory and Victoria, New Zealand 'A', Pakistan's Hyderabad Kingsmen and Nepal during the league stage. Their only defeat before the semifinal came against Adelaide Strikers Academy, which eventually became the champions.

Mystery spinner Mohammad Rubel was the standout performer for Bangladesh HP, finishing the tournament as its leading wicket-taker with 23 wickets from seven matches. He was also Bangladesh's best bowler in the semifinal, claiming three wickets for 15 runs from four overs.

Left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan took nine wickets in five matches, while pacer Ripon Mondal claimed eight wickets in six games. Abdul Ghaffar Saqlain finished with seven wickets after featuring in all seven matches.

 With the bat, Ariful Islam led Bangladesh HP's run-scoring with 219 runs, including two half-centuries, at a strike rate of 138.60. He finished third among the tournament's leading run-scorers.

Former Bangladesh international Sabbir Rahman scored 184 runs in seven matches, also recording two fifties, at a strike rate of 124.32.

However, several other batters struggled for consistency. Shamim Patwari made 107 runs in six innings, including a 51-run knock, while Jisan Alam scored 102 runs in six matches. Habibur Rahman Sohan managed 85 runs in seven games. Captain Irfan Shukkur endured a disappointing tournament with only 72 runs in six innings.BSS