Top End T20 Series
Published: 10:34 AM, 30 August 2026
Rubel, Sabbir propel Bangladesh HP team into semifinals
With the win, Bangladesh secured the semifinal spot after claiming five wins from six matches with 10 points.- Top End T20
Veteran Sabbir Rahman smashed a commanding 47 while mystery spinner Md Rubel picked up five wickets as Bangladesh High Performance XI defeated Northern Territory Strike by three wickets in the Top End T20 Series at Marrara Cricket Ground on Friday.
With the win, Bangladesh secured the semifinal spot after claiming five wins from six matches with 10 points.
Chasing 144, Bangladesh reached 144-7 in 18.2 overs after restricting NT Strike to 143-9 from its 20 overs.
Bangladesh lost Ariful Islam for 10 with the score on 20 before Habibur Rahman Sohan made 22 from 18 balls. Sabbir then anchored the chase, scoring 47 from 37 deliveries, including two fours and a six, to keep Bangladesh in control despite wickets falling around him.
Shamim Hossain contributed 11 and captain Irfaan Shukkur made 17 before Bangladesh slipped from 110-4 to 123-6. Samiun Basir eased the pressure with a brisk 14 from eight balls, including a six, before falling with four runs required. Abdul Gaffar Saqlain finished unbeaten on six as Bangladesh completed the chase.
Earlier, NT Strike elected to bat but struggled against Rubel, who returned outstanding figures of 5-21 from four overs.
Jordan Silk top-scored with 31 from 23 balls, while Matt Hammond added 26 and Cadell McMahon made 25. NT Strike had recovered to 80-4 before Bangladesh’s bowlers triggered another collapse, with four wickets falling for 17 runs as the hosts slid to 97-8.
Sam Barker’s unbeaten 18 and McMahon’s late contribution helped NT Strike reach 143-9. Samiun Basir also impressed with the ball, taking 1-15 from four economical overs.
Tom Menzies and Reiley Mark took two wickets each for NT Strike, but Bangladesh remained ahead of the required rate to seal the victory in the 19th over.
Bangladesh also had a shaky start in the chase, losing Ariful Islam in the third over. Sabbir Rahman then came to the crease at No. 3 and took responsibility for keeping the innings moving.
Sabbir played a fine knock of 47 from 37 balls. However, the HP side kept their cool and eventually reached the target with 10 balls and three wickets still in hand.
Earlier, after winning three matches on the trot, Bangladesh High Performance (HP) team endured their first defeat in the Top End T20 tournament against Adelaide Strikers Academy by 21-run at Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin.
This was also the first time so far in the tournament that they couldn't chase a target, having earlier defeated Nepal, Hobart Hurricanes and Victoria CA after batting second.
Considering the recent success in chasing, Bangladesh opted to bowl first but Adelaide Academy put up a strong batting performance to rack up 164-9. Bangladesh eventually managed to score 143-9 before losing the game by 21 runs.
Pacer Abdul Gaffar Saqlain claimed 4-21 and spinner Mohammad Rubel returned figures of 3-30 to push the Australian domestic team hard but a combined effort saw them past 150-run mark.
Opener Thomas Kelly was the top-scorer with 20 ball-38, sending the ball across the ropes for six times. Harry Hunter made 35 while Noah McFadyen chipped-in-with 31.
Bangladesh made a horrible start losing inform opener Jisan Alam for the first-ball-duck. But Habibur Rahman Sohan and Ariful appeared to bring the side back on track with calculative cricket.
