Bijoy seals T20 series for Bangladesh Academy

Anamul Haque Bijoy continued to impress with the bat as his rapid 60 helped GP-BCB National Cricket Academy to a seven-wicket win over South Africa Cricket Academy in the second and final Twenty20 game at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

The hosts clinched the series 2-0 after drawing the four-day match series 1-1 and losing the one-day series 1-2 earlier. Man-of-the-match Bijoy strung a 78-run second wicket stand with Myshukur Rahman as the home side reached 139 for three in 19 overs, chasing the South Africans' 136-7 in 20 overs.
Bijoy struck five boundaries and a six in his 49-ball effort where he made sure the innings kept its momentum. After Soumya Sarkar fell for thirteen, Bijoy and Myshukur played varied knocks, the latter hitting a boundary and six in his 40-ball 34 as he aided the No 3, who was finally dismissed with his side needing 24 to win from 22 balls.
Bijoy had earlier made 169 in the second four-day game to set up a huge victory for the Academy side and yesterday too his fine half-century scripted an easy win. He began the season with a century of course and throughout, especially his stint with Abahani in the Premier League as well as his fine work behind the stumps for the Premier League side and Dhaka has impressed many.
Later, Nasir Hossain and Mominul Haque coolly reached the winning target with six balls to spare as the hosts completed a face-saving series win in the shortest format.
Paceman Hardus Viljoen and off-spinner Patrick Botha took a wicket each as the visitors would return home today with good memories after a somewhat successful tour.
Earlier, paceman Alauddin Babu again impressed with the new ball as he quickly removed Lenert van Wyk in the third over. He later had top-scorer Dominic Hendricks out bowled for 37 and he also ran out dangerman Viljoen in the slog overs.
Hendricks made 37 off 33 balls with the help of two sixes while Christiaan Schoeman, the double-centurion from the first four-dayer, struck five boundaries in his 23-ball 34.
Patrick Botha had given the visitors a fine start but he failed to take off from his 14-ball 20 as he was cleaned up by Nasir's off-spin.
Leg-spinner Noor Hossain Munna also picked up two wickets which included South African Cricket Academy skipper Joshua Richards who made just 12.
BRIEF SCORES
SOUTH AFRICA CRICKET ACADEMY: 136-7 in 20 overs (Hendricks 37, Schoemaan 34, Botha 20; Alauddin 2-30, Noor 2-23, Nasir 1-21).
GP-BCB ACADEMY: 139-3 in 19 overs (Bijoy 60, Myshukur 34, Nasir 18
not out; Viljoen 1-15, Botha 1-30).
Result: GP-BCB Academy won by seven wickets and win series 2-0.
Man-of-the-match: Anamul Haque Bijoy.