Liton, Soumya propel Tigers to 200

Liton Das continued his tremendous form as he smashed a 39-ball 59 with five fours and three sixes to help Bangladesh post a challenging total of 200 for 3 in 20 overs in the first match of the two-match T20 series against Zimbabwe at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Monday, reports UNB.

Soumya Sarker plays a shot during the first Twenty20 international cricket match of a two-match series between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on 9 March, 2020. Photo: AFP

Liton hit two centuries in the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe and earned the man of the series award. Now, he managed to bring his golden form in T20Is as well. Along with him, Soumya Sarkar struck 32-ball 62 with four fours and five sixes to help the Tigers post a big total.

Zimbabwe won the toss and sent Bangladesh to bat first. Liton Das and Tamim Iqbal posted 92 runs in the first wicket stand before Tamim fell prey to Wesley Madhevere for 41 off 33 balls with three fours and two sixes.

After Tamim’s departure, Liton and Soumya Sarkar added only 14 runs in the second wicket stand. Liton was removed by Sikandar Raza. The right-handed batsman expected the ball to turn away but it didn’t and hit his pad.

Liton Das plays a shot. Photo: AFP

In the third wicket stand, Soumya and Mushfiqur Rahim added 40 runs. In the eight-ball short stay, Mushfiqur scored 17 with two sixes but he failed to continue as Chris Mpofu trapped him.

After Mushfiqur’s removal, Mahmudullah and Soumya added 54 runs on the board off 25 balls. Soumya remained unbeaten on 62 scoring 20 runs in the last over smashing three big sixes.

Raza, Mpofu and Wesley Madhevery scalped one wicket each in this game.