Darwin, 22 August 2026:
Bangladesh High Performance XI produced a dominant all-round display to crush Nepal by nine wickets in their Top End T20 Series clash at Marrara Oval on Saturday, chasing down a modest 100-run target with 58 balls to spare.
After electing to field, Bangladesh HP XI took control almost immediately as Md Rubel ripped through Nepal’s top order. Nepal lost five wickets inside the first four overs and slumped to 13 for five, leaving their innings in serious trouble.
Rubel was at the heart of the collapse, dismissing captain Anil Sah for a first-ball duck before removing Kushal Malla and Lokesh Bam. Rohanat Doullah Borson and Ripon Mondol also struck early as Nepal struggled to build any momentum.
Kushal Bhurtel provided the only substantial resistance. The opener held the innings together with a patient 46 off 40 balls, hitting three fours and a six. He added 32 with Shahab Alam, who made 11 from 23 deliveries, to take Nepal to 45 before another cluster of wickets stalled their recovery.
Bhurtel eventually became Rubel’s fourth victim with the score on 75. Bipin Khatri remained unbeaten on 11 as Nepal limped to 99 for nine from their 20 overs.
Rubel finished with outstanding figures of four for 18 from four overs, while Borson, Mondol and Samiun Basir claimed one wicket each.
Bangladesh HP XI made light work of the chase despite losing Habibur Rahman Sohan for seven with the score on 34.
Jishan Alam attacked Nepal’s bowlers from the outset and raced to an unbeaten 52 from just 29 deliveries, striking three fours and four sixes. He received composed support from Ariful Islam, who finished unbeaten on 34 from 27 balls with three fours and a six.
The pair added an unbroken 67 for the second wicket as Bangladesh HP XI raced to 101 for one in only 10.2 overs, sealing an emphatic nine-wicket victory. Shahab Alam was Nepal’s only successful bowler.
Scores in brief:
Bangladesh High Performance XI won by nine wickets with 58 balls remaining
Nepal 99/9 in 20 overs (Kushal Bhurtel 46, Shahab Alam 11, Bipin Khatri 11 not out; Md Rubel 4/18, Rohanat Doullah Borson 1/13, Ripon Mondol 1/19)
Bangladesh HP XI 101/1 in 10.2 overs (Jishan Alam 52 not out, Ariful Islam 34 not out; Shahab Alam 1/27)
