Published: 12:04 PM, 01 September 2026
Rubel impresses amid HP's disappointing Top End T20
Mystery spinner Mohammad Rubel was the standout performer for Bangladesh HP, finishing the tournament as its leading wicket-taker with 23 wickets from seven matches. - Top End T20
The Bangladesh High Performance (HP) team were knocked out of the Top End T20 after suffering a narrow one-wicket defeat to Victoria Cricket Association in the semifinal in Darwin today after coming here to clinch the trophy.
Until the semifinal, they played impressive cricket to make them hot favourite to win the trophy for the second time.
Led by Irfan Shukkur, Bangladesh HP played seven matches in the tournament, recording five wins in the league phase before their campaign ended in the last four.
The Bangladesh side defeated Australia's Northern Territory and Victoria, New Zealand 'A', Pakistan's Hyderabad Kingsmen and Nepal during the league stage. Their only defeat before the semifinal came against Adelaide Strikers Academy, which eventually became the champions.
Mystery spinner Mohammad Rubel was the standout performer for Bangladesh HP, finishing the tournament as its leading wicket-taker with 23 wickets from seven matches. He was also Bangladesh's best bowler in the semifinal, claiming three wickets for 15 runs from four overs.
Left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan took nine wickets in five matches, while pacer Ripon Mondal claimed eight wickets in six games. Abdul Ghaffar Saqlain finished with seven wickets after featuring in all seven matches.
With the bat, Ariful Islam led Bangladesh HP's run-scoring with 219 runs, including two half-centuries, at a strike rate of 138.60. He finished third among the tournament's leading run-scorers.
Former Bangladesh international Sabbir Rahman scored 184 runs in seven matches, also recording two fifties, at a strike rate of 124.32.
However, several other batters struggled for consistency. Shamim Patwari made 107 runs in six innings, including a 51-run knock, while Jisan Alam scored 102 runs in six matches. Habibur Rahman Sohan managed 85 runs in seven games. Captain Irfan Shukkur endured a disappointing tournament with only 72 runs in six innings. Earlier, Bangladesh High Performance (HP) team's Top End T20 campaign ended after a dramatic one-wicket defeat to Victoria Cricket Academy in the semifinal at Garden Oval in Darwin.
Asked to bat first, Bangladesh HP were bowled out for 101 in 17.1 overs after failing to build substantial partnerships.
The bowlers battled hard to save the team but Victoria CA managed to eke out a victory by reaching 105-9 with two balls to spare.
The Bangladesh HP, however, beat Victoria in the group stage by five wickets. Jisan Alam top-scored for HP with 30 while Ariful Islam made 19. Abu Haider Rony and Abdul Gaffar Saqlain contributed 12 and 10 respectively, but the rest of the batting lineup failed to make an impact after being sent to bat first.
Captain Irfan Shukkur, Sabbir Rahman and Shamim Patwari were dismissed cheaply as Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals. Shukkur, who had struggled with the bat throughout the tournament, was dismissed for a golden duck in the semifinal.
Victoria's Will Sutherland was the standout bowler, taking four wickets, while three other bowlers claimed two wickets each.
In reply, Victoria Cricket Academy lost their first wicket with only one run on the board but kept the chase alive despite regular setbacks.
Victoria, however, held their nerve to reach the winning target with two balls remaining and book their place in the final.
Adelaide Strikers Academy beat New Zealand A by five wickets in the day's other semifinal.
The final between the Adelaide and Victoria, the two Australian teams, was held at Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin just a few hours after the semifinals.
Victoria, however, this time couldn't hold their nerve as Adelaide won the trophy, sealing a 25-run victory in the final.
