11th South Asian Games 2010: Hosts' flying start

Monday, February 1, 2010

Hosts Bangladesh made a flying start in the T20 cricket competition of the 11th South Asian Games with an eight-wicket victory over Nepal in the opening match at the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi yesterday.

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Mithun entertained the crowd with a 21-ball 41 that contained seven boundaries and a six as the hosts romped to the 83-run target for the loss of 2 wickets in 9.3 overs in reply to Nepal's 80 for seven.

Batsmen from the Himalayan kingdom had no answer to the spin attack of the hosts backed by some spirited fielding, as they were restricted to the paltry total after deciding to bat. Sanjamul Islam was the most successful bowler with figures of three for 22.

Binod Bhandari top-scored with 18 off 23 balls for Nepal.

Mithun then put the Nepali bowlers to the sword and ensured 38 runs in 3.5 overs in the opening stand before Rony Talukdar was bowled by Bhuvan Karki who later took the wicket of Mithun.

One down batsman Asif Ahmed was the other notable scorer with an unbeaten 26 that came from 18 deliveries. Asif hit four sweetly timed boundaries.

Skipper Mithun expressed his satisfaction with the outcome.

"It's a good win the first match and we are looking forward to our next game against Sri Lanka," said the wicketkeeper-batsman.

Bangladesh take on the Lankans tomorrow at the same venue.

In today's matches, Sri Lanka meet Nepal at the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium while Maldives play Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

BRIEF SCORES
NEPAL: 80 for seven in 20 overs (Subash 14, Gyanendra 14, Binod 18, Sagar 10 not out; Sanjamul 3-22)

BANGLADESH: 83 for two in 9.3 overs (Mithun 41, Rony 5, Asif 26 not out, Nasir 9 not out; Bhuvan 2-31)

Result: Bangladesh won by eight wickets.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=124365