Bangabandhu T20 Cup 2020, 8th Match
Gemcon Khulna VS Beximco Dhaka
Played at SBNCS, Dhaka on 30 November 2020 
Gemcon Khulna 146/8 (Mahmudullah Riad 45, Imrul Kayes 29, Ariful Haq 19, Shubhagato Hom 15*, Rubel Hossain 3/28, Shafiqul Islam 2/34) beat Beximco Dhaka 109 All Out in 19.2 Overs ( Mushfiqur Rahim 37, Yasir Ali  Rabbi 21 , Shuvagato Hom 3/13, Shahidul Islam 3/20 ,Hasan Mahmud 2/22) by 37 Runs
Player of The Match: Shuvagato Hom 

Desperate Khulna bowling and fielding out of their skins defended a below par total of 146 against awful Dhaka pushing them to the brink. 

Losing their 3rd of the four matches of round one Dhaka looks likely the team that may not make the business session. Beximco Dhaka getting all out 109 lost yet again by 37 runs. Star-studded Khulna managing 2 wins from 4 matches still have to recover a lot in the round two to make a crack for the top honors. 

Shakib Al Hasan, the priced catch of Khulna still could not get out of his terrible bad patch. His fourth time batting failure in as many matches created some worries for himself and his team. Yesterday he was clean bowled playing a wrong line to a Rubel delivery scoring only 9 runs in 11 deliveries. Gone are the usual fluency of the batting of this super star all-rounder. He scored 27 runs in the first two matches. Then, he suddenly decided to open the innings in the third match which he never did earlier in any format. But even then, nothing changed. In the third match he returned scoring only 3. Yesterday he did the same. Shaky Shakib could score only 11 in 9 balls before being sent back by Rubel. 

Sent in to bat Khulna was looking terrible at 30/3 when two senior pros Mahmudullah Riad and Imrul Kayes did the resurrecting act. This pair added 56 before Imrul was adjudged LBW to Naeem Hasan for 29. Ariful once again made useful contribution of 19 in the low scoring match before becoming victim of Rubel Hossain. Riad also could not make his innings bigger than 45 as Rubel again cleaned him up with another good delivery. 146/8 did not seem a match winning score at innings break. That was also possible for a 5-ball unbeaten 15 runs cameo by Shuvagato Hom coming to bat at number 7. Rubel finished with 3/28 and debutant Shafiqul took 2/34.
Dhaka could dream of its first win in the third match. But desperate Khulna bowling exceedingly well and fielding sharply soon squeezed Dhaka. Ball was turning and gripping. Shuvagato coming to ball first bowled very accurately and so did desperate Shakib. Dhaka soon was reduced to 3/14 by the 4th over. Shakib in his four overs took 2 maidens and giving away only 8 runs sent back flamboyant Mohammad Naim. From pathetic situation Mushfique and Yasir Rabi tried doing the rescue act. The 57 runs 4th wicket partnership showed glimpse of hope. But two quick wickets of Yasir (21) and Mushfique (37) at critical time put paid to Dhaka efforts. Last five wickets felling for 21 runs caused Dhaka innings folding up for 109. Other than Mushfique and Rabbi none could even reach double figure. Dhaka lost the low scoring match by 37 runs. The fate of big budget influential team Beximco Dhaka for advancing now hangs in a balance. Khulna finished with two wins in four matches also have to improve a lot in round two. Shuvagato Hom taking 3/13 and Shahidul grabbing 3/20 did most of the damage. Hom was adjudged the player of the match. 

Khulna has completed all their round one matches. With two wins they are at third. Other four teams have now played 3 matches each. Very strong and accomplished Gazi Group Chattogram winning all three is at the top of the table. Spirited Rajshahi stays at second with two wins from three matches. They have to play against Chattogram their last group match. Barisal with one win is just above bottom of the table Dhaka. The top two and the bottom two playing against each other will complete round one on 2 December. 

THE WAY KEY BATSMEN FAILING AGAINST LOCAL PACERS SHOULD CREATE LOTS OF WORRIES FOR THE BANGLADESH THINK TANK. OFF COURSE WICKETS APPEAR TO BE NOT ALSO IDEAL FOR STROKE PLAY. STILL WITH POWERFUL WEST INDIES DUE COMING FOR FULL SERIES NEXT MONTH LOTS NEED TO IMPROVE TOO SOON. 

BDST: 1227 HRS, DEC 01, 2020
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