United News of Bangladesh

Australia's women had already retained the Ashes. Now they've won the series against England. The Australians won the rain-affected second Twenty20 by six runs in Canberra on Thursday to extend their 100% start to the series and move into a 10-0 lead with just one more T20 and a test match remaining. The English were set 186 to win and reached 168-4 with five balls left when heavy rain fell and no further play was possible. They were six runs short of the required score set by the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. Read: Women's ODI Series: Bangladesh taste maiden victory against West Indies in any format The Australians, who have won all three ODIs and the first two T20s, have held the Ashes since 2015, when they won the multi-format series on English soil.

Mid-table Durbar Rajshahi  forced League leader Rangpur Riders to concede first defeat in the seven-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket beating them by 24 runs at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Thursday. Despite the day’s maiden defeat, Rangpur Riders maintained their top slot in the league intact securing 16 points from nine matches with eight wins and one defeat while middle rated Durbar Rajshahi are still struggling for the qualifiers with eight points from ten encounters. Sent into bat first in the day’s match, Durbar Rajshahi piled up a moderate 170 for 9 in 20 overs with middle order Yasir Ali quick-firing 60 runs off 32 deliveries hitting two four and six sixes. Later Yasir was adjudged most valuable player of the match by Cricinfo. Opener Sabbir Hossain (39), one down Anamul Haque Bijoy (34), another opener Mohammad Haris (19) were the other notable batters to reach the double figures. BPL: Rajshahi beat Sylhet as Sunzamul takes three wickets Akif Javed and Khurshdil Shah grabbed three wickets each conceding 23 and 31 runs respectively. In reply, Rangpur Riders were bundled out for 146 runs in 19.2 overs with one down Saif Hasan making 29-ball 43 runs featuring five fours and two sixes. Nurul Hasan Shohan fired a captain knock of 41 runs off 26 balls hitting four fours and two sixes, bowling all rounder  Mohammad Saifuddin  made 14-ball 23 runs including two fours and a six while and Khurhdil Shah made 13-ball 14 runs featuring a six, were the main contributors for Rangpur Riders. Ryan Buri of Rajshahi claimed four wickets 22 runs and was adjudged player of the match while SM Meherob and Taskin Ahmed took two wickets each giving away 19 and 20 runs respectively.

Bangladesh Women's team tasted the maiden win against West Indies in any format of cricket beating the hosts by 60 runs at Warner Park, Basseterre in St Kitts on Tuesday evening. By virtue of this victory, Bangladesh not only leveled the series with West Indies 1-1, but also stayed one win away from direct qualification for this year's eight-team ICC Women's ODI World Cup. Hosts West Indies took 1-0 lead outplaying Bangladesh by a nine-wicket margin in the first match of the series last Sunday. If Bangladesh win their remaining 3rd and last ODI against West Indies or the match ended in a no result on next Friday, then Bangladesh will get direct qualification for Women's ODI World Cup for the first time. U-19 WC: Bangladesh girls move into Super 6 In the 2nd ODI on Tuesday, sent to bat first, Bangladesh scored a moderate total of 184 for all in 48.5 overs featuring 68 runs off 120 balls with five boundaries by captain Nigar Sultana. This was her 5th ODI half century. Besides, Sobhani Mostary (23), Shorna Akter (21), opener Fargana Hoque (18), opener Murshida Khatun (12) and Sharmin Akter (11) were the other major contributors for Bangladesh. Karishma Ramharack snatched four wickets for 33 runs while Aaliyah Alleyne took three wickets for 24 runs. In reply, West Indies women were bundled out for 124 runs in 35 overs with one down Shemaine Campbelle making the team highest 28 runs. Nahida Akter grabbed three wickets for 31 runs in 10 overs and was adjudged the player of the match. Besides, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan and Marufa Akter captured two wickets each conceding 17, 19 and 35 runs respectively.

Dhaka Capitals moved up to the fourth place of the points table, beating Chittagong Kings by eight wickets on Wednesday in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match in Chattogram. It was Dhaka’s third win in 10 matches, while it was Chittagong’s fourth defeat in nine matches. Chittagong batted first and posted 148 for six wickets in 20 overs. Naeem Islam was the highest scorer with 44, while Zubaid Akbari posted 23, and Graham Clark scored 19. U-19 WC: Bangladesh girls move into Super 6 For Dhaka, Mosaddek Hossain took two wickets for 13 runs in three overs, while Nazmul Islam and Ronsford Beaton scalped two wickets each. Tanzid Hasan led Dhaka’s reply with 90 off 54 balls. He hit seven sixes and three fours. Tanzid and Litton Das shared a 75-run stand in the opening partnership. Dhaka reached the target in just 18.1 overs.

Bangladesh have advanced to the Super Six stage of the ICC Women's U-19 T20 World Cup, beating Scotland by 17 runs in their last Group D match. The match was held at YSD-UKM Cricket Oval in Bangi in Malaysia on Wednesday. With the day's feat, Bangladesh finished Group D runners-up, securing four points from three matches, beating Nepal by five wickets, and losing to Australia by two wickets. Australia topped Group D, collecting a full six points from three straight matches. Sent in to bat first in the day's match, the Bangladesh women's team scored a moderate total of 120 runs for 9 in a quota of 20 overs, featuring a captain's knock of not out 28 runs off 36 balls with two fours by Sumaiya Akter. Chittagong Kings crush Rajshahi by 111 Runs Besides, Afia Ashima (21), Juairiya Ferdous (20), and Fahmida Choya (14) were the other notable batters for Bangladesh, while another 21 runs of the innings came from extras. Ammy Baldie and Maisie Maceira took two wickets each, conceding 15 and 27 runs, respectively. Chasing a target of 121 runs, the Scottish women were forced to fold their innings at 103 runs for 8 in 20 overs, with one down batter cum wicketkeeper, Pippa Sproul, contributing the match's highest 43 runs off 41 balls, hitting four fours and a six. Besides, captain Niamh Muir (22) and opener Emma Walsingham (11) were other major contributors for Scotland. Anisa Akter Soba made the major damage in Scotland's innings, grabbing four wickets for 25 runs with a maiden and was adjudged the player of the match. Habiba Islam and Nishita Akter Nishi of Bangladesh claimed one wicket each, giving away 16 and 30 runs, respectively.

Chittagong Kings recorded a 111-run victory over Durbar Rajshahi in their Bangladesh Premier League clash at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Monday. Naeem Islam hit a fifty and then took two wickets to guide the Kings to a comfortable victory. Chittagong batted first and scored 191 runs for eight wickets in 20 overs. Naeem led with 56 off 41 balls. He hit five fours and three sixes. They were also boosted by Graham Clark’s 45 off just 28 balls, and Mohammad Mithun, the captain of Chittagong King, hit 32 off just 20 balls. For Rajshahi, Taskin Ahmed continued to impress. He bagged two for 23 runs, while Mohor Sheikh took 2 for 46 runs. Rajshahi failed to contain the runs in the death overs and also failed to take wickets when they needed them most. BPL: Rajshahi beat Sylhet as Sunzamul takes three wickets Rajshahi collapsed under pressure while replying. They were bowled out for only 80 runs in 14.2 overs. They started poorly, losing three wickets inside the first three overs of the match. Anamul Haque, who scored a ton in the previous match, scored 21. Akbar Ali scored 10. None of their other batters were able to reach a double-digit total. Naeem took two wickets just for six runs in three overs, while Shoriful Islam took two for 10 runs. With this win, Chittagong now have 10 points in five wins from eight matches. They are currently in second place in the points table right after Rangpur Riders, who have secured 16 points from eight wins in eight matches.

Dhaka Capitals secured a narrow six-run win against Sylhet Strikers in a high-scoring match in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Monday. It was Dhaka’s second win in nine matches, and Sylhet suffered the sixth defeat in eight matches so far. These are at the bottom of the points table with only four points each.  Dhaka batted first and posted 196 for six wickets in 20 overs, with Litton Das hitting 70 off 48 balls. The right-handed batter hit four fours and as many as sixes.  Khan masterminds Pakistan's emphatic 127-run win against West Indies in 1st test Thisara Perera added a quickfire 37 off 17 balls, including three sixes, to provide a late boost. For the Strikers, Tipu Sultan bagged two wickets for 26 runs, while Samiullah Shinwari took two for 27 runs. In reply, Sylhet fell just short, finishing at 190 for 7 despite a notable effort of 68 off 44 balls from Rony Talukdar. At one point, Strikers were going close with 127 runs for four wickets in 16 overs. But Dhaka’s bowler kept their plan well in the difficult times.  Barishal clinch fifth win defeating Chittagong by six wickets Perera bagged two wickets for 31 runs with the important wicket of Rony, and Mustafizur Rahman scalped two wickets for 46 runs.  At the end, Ajker Ali hit 28 off 13 balls while Ariful Haque scored 29 off 13 balls to keep Sylhet alive in the contest, but losing wickets at the crucial moments cost them the match.  In the last over, the Strikers needed 26 runs off six balls. Mustafizur conceded 16 and bagged two wickets to defend it. 

Off-spinner Sajid Khan masterminded Pakistan’s emphatic 127-run win against the West Indies with a match haul of nine wickets in the first test on Sunday. Khan followed his four-wicket haul in the first innings with 5-50 as the West Indies were bowled out for 123 runs in the second after being set a target of 251 runs on a spinning pitch. Alick Athanaze, playing in only his 12th test match, made a fighting 55 off 68 balls before he became Khan’s fifth victim with inexperienced West Indies resistance folding in the second session on Day 3. “As long as we get 20 wickets and are able to put in a good performance, we will be happy,” Pakistan captain Shan Masood said. “We did not know whether in these conditions the ball would spin as it is cold … but our spinners were clinical.” Khan replicated his first-innings show with the new ball by yet again removing the top four batters as the tourists limped to 54-5 inside the first session that saw 11 of the 12 wickets falling to the spinners. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who shared the new ball with Khan, claimed figures of 4-27 that included the wickets of Kevin Sinclair (10) and Gudakesh Motie (0) off successive balls with both edging to Salman Ali Agha in the slips as the tourists lost their last four wickets without scoring a run. “The batters didn’t play as well as they should have,” West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite said. “We just have to be brave ... it is important to be positive on these types of pitches. We should still trust our defence. If we can bring it together batting and bowling wise, we can come out on top.” In a sensational 2-1/2 hour first session, left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican had grabbed a career-best 7-32 as Pakistan batters also struggled on their own engineered wicket for spinners. Warrican featured in all but one dismissal in Pakistan’s second innings as the home team was bowled out for 157 runs inside 1-1/2 hours after resuming on 109-3. Read: Barishal clinch fifth win defeating Chittagong by six wickets It gave Pakistan an overall lead of 250 runs after West Indies conceded a 93-run first innings lead when it was dismissed for 137 inside one session on Day 2 in reply to Pakistan's score of 230. Khan removed Brathwaite (12), Mikyle Louis (13), Keacy Carty (6) and Kavem Hodge (0) for the second successive time in the match as the tourists' ploy to counterattack the off-spinner failed with slow bowlers getting purchase off the sluggish surface. “The team is playing together and it is great,” Khan said. “The wicket had a lot of turn and bounce. The spin bowling coach spoke to me and in the second innings, I bowled a little slower and did not leak too many runs.” Brathwaite holed out at deep mid-wicket while going for an overly ambitious shot; Carty lobbed an easy catch behind the wicket while attempting a sweep, while Hodge and Louis were bowled by Khan’s sharp-turning deliveries. Athanaze delayed the inevitable by sharing a 41-run stand with debutant Tevin Imlach (14) and completed his half century with a cover driven boundary before Ahmed hurried the collapse to finish off the West Indies resistance. Warrican had earlier given West Indies hope when he had Pakistan’s best batter against spin Saud Shakeel (2) caught at short mid-wicket off the first ball of the day. Rizwan and Kamran Ghulam were then outdone by awkward bounce and edged as the left-arm spinner exploited the favorable slow-bowling conditions. Read more: Bumrah's fitness to be tested by India against England before Champions Trophy Warrican capped his brilliant bowling when he ran out Khurram Shahzad with a direct-hit throw. He could have featured in all the dismissals had West Indies gone for a lbw television review against Agha, before Motie wrapped up the innings by having Agha caught at mid-off with Pakistan losing seven wickets for 48 runs. “It is hard out there (for batters),” Masood said. “In the second innings, we folded cheaply. There are improvements to be made. When you win, you can go on a happy ride and be happy, but we can’t do that.” Despite Pakistan’s third successive home win on raked wickets for spinners, it is at No. 8 and West Indies is at No. 9 in the World Test Championship points table after both teams underperformed over the past year in tests. Australia and South Africa have already qualified for the June 11-15 WTC final at Lord’s. The second test, which will be the last for both teams in this WTC cycle, starts at the same venue on Friday.

Khulna Tigers beat Durbar Rajshahi by seven runs in a high-scoring match in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Sunday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. Anamul Haque hit a century for Rajshahi but it went in vain as he ended up being on the losing side. Khulna batted first and posted a total of 209 runs for four wickets. Afif Hossain led their batting effort with 56 off 42 balls. William Bosisto contributed with an unbeaten 55 off 37. Mahidul Islam Ankon hit 30 off just 12 balls to guide Khulna past the 200-run mark. Taskin Ahmed took two wickets for Rajshahi but leaked runs on key moments. Chasing a big total, Rajshahi’s captain Anamul Haque led his team hitting a century. But his 57-ball 100 with five sixes and nine fours was not enough for him to guide the team to a win. Jishan Alam, 30 off 15 balls, Ryan Burl, 25 off 16 balls, did their parts but their efforts were not enough to avoid a defeat for Rajshahi. They got close scoring 202 for 4 in in 20 overs, but failed to finish the game in their favour. Hasan Mahmud took two wickets while Abu Hider and Salman Irshad took one wicket each. While it was Khulna’s third win in seven matches, Rajshahi suffered their fifth defeat in eight matches in the event.

Fortune Barishal secured their fifth victory in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) beating Chittagong Kings by six wickets in a low-scoring affair on Sunday.  Dawid Malan’s 56 runs and well-planned bowling led Barishal to the win with 19 balls to play. Chittagong batted first and were able to score only 121 runs for eight wickets in 20 overs.  Ripon Mondol and Faheem Ashraf were the main bowlers for Barishal. Both scalped three wickets each. Ripon struck early to remove opener Usman Khan and Graham Clark.  Faheem Ashraf's 3 for 12 included key dismissals of Parvez Hossain Emon and Shamim Hossain. In the power play, Chittagong were reeling at 39 for 5. Skipper Mohammad Mithun provided some resistance with a 34-ball 35, while Arafat Sunny’s unbeaten 27 off 34 offered late support. However, their efforts could not lift Chittagong to a competitive total. Barishal's chase started cautiously, with Tamim Iqbal (8) run out in the fourth over. Towhid Hridoy (1) and Mushfiqur Rahim (11) fell cheaply, but Malan anchored the innings with a composed 56 off 41, supported by Mohammad Nabi's 26. The duo’s unbeaten 69-run stand sealed the win for Barishal. Barishal reached 122 for 4 in 16.5 overs, ensuring a comfortable victory. Khaled Ahmed took two wickets for 27 runs for Chittagong.  With this win, Barishal’s point tally reached 10 in five wins in seven matches. They are now in the second position on the points table right after Rangpur Riders who have 16 points from eight wins. They are the only team who are yet to concede a defeat in this year’s BPL.