In-form all-rounder Mahmudullah led from the front as Bangladesh XI defeated Big Bash outfit Sydney Sixers by seven wickets in an exhibition Twenty20 game at North Sydney Oval on Wednesday.
In a rain-affected tie, Bangladesh needed 84 runs in eight overs after Sydney batted first and posted 169 runs on the board losing nine wickets in their 20 overs.
With a required run rate of 10.5 runs per over, Bangladesh lost their top three for 34 runs. Wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah then stood up to the occasion and finished the job in 6.4 overs.
Mushfiq was unbeaten on 16 while Mahmudullah, who finished the Bangladesh Premier League T20 2016-17 season as the man of the tournament with 396 runs and 10 wickets, remained undefeated on 28 off 13 balls with three fours and two sixes. Soumya Sarkar added 20 off nine balls.
Earlier, a 73-run opening wicket stand between Daniel Hughes and Jason Roy enabled hosts Sydney to put up 169 runs. Left-handed opening batsman Hughes scored a 31–ball 47 with the help of eight boundaries while Roy hammered a 23-ball 42, featuring five boundaries and two over-boundaries.
Part-time seamer Soumya led the bowling attack with three wickets in an over conceding five runs. Soumya dismissed Jordan Silk for 35 before accounting for the wickets of Ben Dwarshuis and Soumil Chhibber in the same over.
Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed and spinner Taijul Islam picked up two wickets each.
Bangladesh will take on Sydney Thunder in another T20 practice game at Spotless Stadium on Friday. Bangladesh are likely to field star cricketers Shakib al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal in that game after resting the duo against the Sixers.BRIEF SCOREBangladesh XI 84/3 in 6.4 overs (Mahmudullah 28*, Soumya 20, Chhibber 2/35) beat Sydney Sixers 169/9 (Hughes 47, Roy 42, Soumya 3/5) by seven wickets (D/L method)
Thursday, March 27, 2025
