Bangladesh High Performance suffered their first defeat of the Top End T20 Series after three consecutive victories, going down to Adelaide Academy by 21 runs at Marrara Oval in Darwin.
Chasing 165 for victory, Bangladesh were bowled out for 143 after a dramatic late collapse. The HP side had remained in contention for much of the chase, but lost five wickets within just eight deliveries to see their hopes of extending their winning streak disappear.
Ariful Islam was the standout performer with the bat for Bangladesh. He produced a determined 66, anchoring the innings while wickets fell regularly around him. Despite his resistance, he could not find the support needed to take his side over the line.
The chase went wrong from the very first delivery when Jishan Alam was dismissed. Bangladesh struggled to establish a meaningful partnership thereafter, with Adelaide Academy keeping the pressure on through regular breakthroughs.
Sabbir Rahman scored only five from eight deliveries before departing, while captain Irfan Shukkur also fell for five from seven balls. Those dismissals left Bangladesh under considerable pressure, having lost three wickets within a span of just 17 runs.
Shamim Hossain Patwari then joined Ariful at the crease and attempted to rebuild the innings. He contributed 18 from 18 deliveries, but his dismissal triggered another downturn. With Ariful left increasingly isolated, Bangladesh were unable to maintain the required scoring rate or preserve their remaining wickets.
The final stages proved particularly damaging. Five more wickets fell in the space of only eight deliveries, bringing the Bangladesh HP innings to an abrupt end on 143.
Earlier, Adelaide Academy made a positive start after being asked to bat first. Their opening pair added 34 runs before Bangladesh struck twice in successive overs. Mystery spinner Rubel bowled Connor Carroll in the fourth over to break the partnership, before Abu Hider Rony dismissed Jersis Wadia in the following over.
Bangladesh’s bowlers continued to make regular inroads and prevented Adelaide Academy from building sustained partnerships. Henry Hunt, however, provided stability at one end. He scored 35 from 29 deliveries and helped his side maintain a competitive total despite the pressure created by the Bangladesh attack.
Adelaide Academy could not produce another substantial contribution in the closing overs and eventually finished on 164. That gave Bangladesh a target of 165, a total that appeared within reach in a Twenty20 contest but ultimately proved beyond them because of the collapse during the chase.
Abdul Gaffar Saklain was Bangladesh HP’s leading wicket-taker, claiming four wickets. Rubel took three, while Abu Hider Rony and Rakibul picked up one wicket apiece.
The defeat ended Bangladesh HP’s three-match winning streak in the series. After making an encouraging start with three successive victories, the side will now have to regroup following a match in which its bowling unit performed strongly but the batting struggled to withstand sustained pressure.
For Ariful, the 66 was a notable individual effort in a losing cause. For the team, however, the late loss of five wickets from eight balls proved decisive, turning a competitive run chase into a 21-run defeat.
