Shanaka storm blows Rangpur away

An out of the world knock from Dasun Shanaka was enough. 

Yes, because Rangpur Rangers were bowled out for a meagre 68, which is seven runs short of Shanaka's incredible 75 not out. 

The target for Rangpur was 174, not a very big target considering that Chattogram chased down 162 with ease on the same pitch earlier on the day. But Rangpur were never in the game as they kept on losing wickets on a regular basis and handed Cumilla Warriors a flying start with a 105-run win. 

There was really no doubt about the Man of the Match, as victorious captain Dasun Shanaka picked it up. 

Chasing 174, Rangpur lost their first wicket in the third over when Mohammad Shahzad was sent back by his compatriot Mujeeb-ur-Rahman. The Afghan wicketkeeper-batsman tried to clear the mid-wicket boundary, but only managed to find Sabbir Rahman at the boundary on 13. 

Jahurul Islam did not last long either, as he nicked to the keeper off Abu Hider Rony on 5, reducing his side to 33-2. 

Rangpur kept losing wickets on a regular basis as Al-Amin Hossain struck twice in two deliveries to send back Fazle Mahmud and Lewis Gregory for 1 and 0 respectively. Rangpur could have been in even more trouble, but confusion between Soumya Sarkar and Rony led to Naim Sheikh's catch being dropped. 

But their wickets did not stop crumbling as Soumya came into the bowling to send opponent skipper Mohammad Nabi back for 11. 

Sunzamul Islam was brought into the attack next over and he struck immediately to send Sanjit Saha back to the hut for a duck.

Rangpur's last hopes were diminished when Soumya trapped Naim LBW. Naim reviewed, but that was not enough to save him as hawkeye suggested three reds. 

Sunzamul picked up his second when Taskin stepped down the pitch only to miss the ball altogether and the bails were taken off gracefully by Mahidul Islam. 

Rangpur were dealt another blow as one of their batsmen Zakir Hasan could not bat as he was injured during fielding. 

Cumilla wrapped it up soon when Al-Amin picked up his third wicket going through Junaid Khan's defences, bowling out Rangpur Rangers for an embarrassing 68.

Naim top-scored with 17 and only Nabi and Shahzad could reach double figures. Al-Amin picked up three wickets with Soumya Sarkar and Sunzamul Islam picking up a couple and Abu Hider and Mujeeb picking up one each.  

Earlier, Cumilla skipper Dasun Shanaka decided to have a bat after winning the toss. But that decision backfired in the very first delivery as opener Yasir Ali Chowdhury saw his stumps rattled by an inside edge off the bowling of Rangpur skipper Mohammad Nabi. 

Soumya Sarkar and Bhanuka Rajapaksa looked to rebuild and both of them displayed a few brilliant shots, but that was until Mustafizur came to bowl in the last over of the powerplay. 

'The Fizz' deceived Soumya with a cutter which the left-handed batsman tried to pull, but managing only to find short mid-wicket on 28. 

The very next over, Sanjit Saha trapped Bhanuka LBW but was not given. Nabi decided to review and hawkeye suggested that it was hitting middle stump, which meant Bhanuka had to go back for 15. 

Dawid Malan, along with Sabbir Rahman, tried to steady the ship for the Cumilla Warriors, but Malan was also sent back by Sanjit in the 12th over. The English batsman was deceived by the off-spinner and Mohammad Shahzad nicked the bails off to send him back on 25. 

Mustafiz came back for his second over and sent national teammate Sabbir back instantly. Sabbir was beaten by another brilliant delivery from Mustafiz, and Sabbir's edge only managed to find Sanjit at point on 19. 

Mahidul Islam Ankon did not last long either, as his stumps were clattered by Lewis Gregory and Rangpur reduced to 89-6. 

Everyone expected Cumilla to bundle out for a small total, but Cumilla captain Dasun Shanaka had other ideas. 

He put up a 35-run stand with Abu Hider Rony before the latter was sent back by Gregory, but it was then when Shanaka unleashed the beast. 

He hit Mustafiz for four consecutive sixes to bring up his fifty, including a hit which led to the ball being sent out of the park. In the last over from Junaid Khan, Shanaka hit another three sixes and a four to pick up 23 runs to end the innings on 173-6. 

Shanaka was unbeaten on 75 from 31 deliveries, hitting an astonishing nine sixes and three fours. 

Mustafiz, Sanjit and Gregory picked up a couple of wickets with Nabi picking up the other one.

Brief score:

Cumilla Warriors: 173-7 (Shanaka 75*, Soumya 28, Malan 25, Mustafiz 2-37, Sanjit 2-26, Gregory 2-25)

Rangpur Rangers: 68 (Naim 16, Shahzad 13, Nabi 11, Al-Amin 3-14, Soumya 2-12, Sunzamul 2-4)