Bangladesh HP tops points table with three straight wins in Australia

Bangladesh High Performance (HP) team has maintained their fine form in Australia, continuing their run of success in the Top End T20 series following the national team's historic Test win. The team defeated Victoria Cricket Association Academy by 5 wickets, moving to the top of the points table with their third consecutive win in the tournament on Monday.

Bangladesh lost the toss and were sent in to bowl first at Marrara Cricket Ground 2. Riding on a dominant spin performance, they bowled out Victoria Cricket Association Academy for 131. Mohammad Rubel starred with the ball for Bangladesh, taking 4 wickets for just 15 runs, all four of his victims bowled. Left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan picked up 3 wickets for 28 runs. Victoria's captain Sam Harper top-scored with 49 runs.

Bangladesh ran into early trouble while chasing a target of 132, losing four top-order batters for just 37 runs. Habibur Rahman departed without scoring, while Ariful Islam made 15, Jishan Alam 11 and Sabbir Rahman 5.

Captain Irfan Shukkur and Shamim Hossain then steadied the innings, adding 83 runs for the fifth wicket to put Bangladesh back on course for victory. Irfan was dismissed after scoring 43 off 32 balls, but Shamim eventually guided the team home.

The hard-hitting batter played a match-winning unbeaten knock of 51 runs off 33 balls, hitting 3 sixes. He completed his fifty with a six in the final over, which also sealed the team's third consecutive win.

Bangladesh HP remain the only unbeaten side in the nine-team tournament so far, having won all three of their matches. They will face Adelaide Strikers Academy in their fourth match today.