Bangladesh HP reclaim top spot with Sabbir, Ariful fifties sinking New Zealand A

Bangladesh High Performance returned to the top of the Top End T20 Series points table on Thursday, beating New Zealand A by 24 runs in Darwin behind fifties from Ariful Islam and Sabbir Rahman.

New Zealand A captain Adithya Ashok won the toss and opted to field first. Bangladesh HP got off to a shaky start, with opener Jishan Alam failing to trouble the scorers, before Habibur Rahman Sohan and Ariful steadied the innings with useful resistance at the top.

Sohan fell for 26 off 21 balls, while captain Irfan Shukkur managed just three before Sabbir walked in and began to accelerate.

Ariful continued to build, flirting with a century before falling for 71 off 48 balls, an innings studded with seven fours and two sixes.

Sabbir took over from there, finishing unbeaten on 62 from 36 balls at a strike rate above 172, striking six fours and two sixes of his own to help Bangladesh HP post 181 for five in their 20 overs.

Matthew Fisher was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers with two wickets.

Chasing 182, New Zealand A made a bright start through Katene Clarke and Max Chu, racing to 30 without loss inside three overs before Ripon Mondol removed Clarke, who had struck 24 off just 10 deliveries including a four and two sixes.

Matthew Boyle then joined Chu to add 54 for the second wicket, before Rakibul Hasan stumped Boyle for 31.

Chu and Bevan Jacobs briefly threatened to keep New Zealand A in touch, but their stand yielded just 30 runs before Rakibul bowled Jacobs to trigger a collapse in the chase.

New Zealand A slipped from 114 for three to 152 for eight inside seven overs, managing only six in the final over to close on 158 for eight.

Chu top scored with 44, while Rakibul and Ripon shared six wickets between them, taking three apiece.

The win followed Bangladesh HP's only defeat of the tournament so far, a 21 run loss to Adelaide Strikers Academy, after they had won their opening three matches against Nepal, Hobart Hurricanes Academy and Victoria CA.

Bangladesh HP next face Northern Territory Strike on Friday, August 28.