Bangladesh HP won by 3 Wickets

In a gripping final league match of the Top End T20 series, Bangladesh HP defeated the Perth Scorchers by 3 wickets. Chasing a modest target of 130 runs, Bangladesh HP completed the chase with 3 wickets remaining, ensuring their place in the semifinals. The standout performer of the match was Mahfuzur Rahman Rabbie, who played a crucial innings of 32 runs off 13 balls to secure the victory.

This match marked the last of the round-robin stage for the Bangladesh HP team. With three losses out of the previous five games, today’s match was crucial for Akbar Ali's squad. A defeat would have meant elimination from the semifinals. However, Bangladesh managed to secure the win with three balls to spare.

The Perth Scorchers, five-time Big Bash League (BBL) champions, batted first and could only manage 129 runs in their allotted 20 overs. Pace bowler Ripon Mondol and spinner Rakibul Hasan both claimed two wickets each, with Ripon giving away just 19 runs.

In pursuit of the target, Bangladesh HP faced early setbacks, losing opener Tanzid Hasan in the second over for just 1 run. Parvez Hossain Emon also failed to score, returning to the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Ariful Islam Jony contributed only 2 runs before being dismissed.

During the powerplay, Bangladesh HP struggled, scoring just 15 runs while losing 3 wickets. Amidst this top-order collapse, Zishan Alam, who came in at number five, could not build on his innings and was unfortunate to be run out after scoring 26 runs off 26 balls.

In contrast to the slow start, captain Akbar Ali provided much-needed aggression. After a cautious beginning, Akbar took charge with a fierce approach, scoring 35 runs off 21 balls with 3 sixes and 1 four before being bowled by Jhye Richardson. Abu Haider Rony was dismissed for 7 runs, but the work done by Akbar and Mahfuzur Rahman Rabbie was enough to steer Bangladesh HP to victory.

The win solidifies Bangladesh HP's position in the semifinals and sets the stage for an exciting conclusion to the Top End T20 series.