In the opening match of the ISCT20 2024 edition, the Dohatec New Media cricket team squared off against the debutant team, Exabyting, on Friday, November 8th. On a bright and sunny morning at the Diabari New Ground, the newcomers won the toss and confidently chose to bat first, hoping to set a challenging target for their opponents. However, despite their optimistic decision, Exabyting faced considerable difficulties translating that choice into a solid performance on the pitch.
Md Sajjad Hosen (Noyon) distinguished himself during a challenging match by scoring an impressive 56 runs, demonstrating his skill and determination. He was fortunate to be dropped early in his innings by Dohatec. His performance shone in contrast to the team’s otherwise lacklustre batting display. Unfortunately, Noyon’s efforts were rarely supported, as most of his teammates failed to make significant contributions.
The batters struggled to build meaningful partnerships, consistently losing their wickets in quick succession and failing to find a rhythm. Their inability to rotate the strike effectively hindered their scoring opportunities, resulting in a sluggish run rate that left the team lacking momentum. As the innings progressed, the lack of cohesion and strategy became evident, causing Team Exabyting to end up with a total that fell short of their expectations and ambitions for a competitive score. Despite a few dropped catches, Team Exabyting could only manage a meagre 138 runs from their 20 overs.
Hussain Md. Tito spearheaded Team Dohatec’s bowling attack. He took 3 wickets while conceding just 29 runs in his 4 overs. Md. Asiquzzaman (Asiq) also contributed by taking 1 wicket, although his economy rate of 7.5 was relatively high. Masum Billah, Clinton Chakma, Shahidul Malek Hira, and Tousif Khan also picked up a wicket each, but Tito’s outstanding display largely overshadowed their performances.
Hoping to secure a comfortable victory and enhance their net run rate, Dohatec New Media embarked on their chase. In a thrilling display of power and precision, the Dohatec batters launched a relentless assault on the Exabyting bowlers during their innings. The standout performance came from Mostafizur Rahman, who delivered a spectacular innings, scoring an impressive 68 runs off just 21 balls. His approach was nothing short of explosive. With each stroke, he showcased a masterclass in aggressive batting that kept both fans and opponents on the edge of their seats. Mostafizur’s innings featured a series of powerful boundaries and an unwavering determination to dominate the bowling attack.
Mostafiz’s teammate, Sazzadul Islam, supported him in this batting onslaught and played a crucial role with a well-paced 37-run contribution. Sazzad’s innings provided stability amidst the fast-paced carnage as he expertly rotated the strike and found gaps in the field, complementing Mostafiz’s fireworks beautifully.
The match concluded quickly, with Dohatec New Media successfully chasing the target in just 8.4 overs, losing just 3 wickets. Their impressive performance highlighted the strength of their batting lineup, showcasing their power-hitting abilities and strategic approach to executing a successful chase. Mostafizur Rahman of Dohatec was named Man of the Match for his outstanding innings. The team’s ability to remain composed under pressure, along with their effective tactical execution, played crucial roles in their victory. This dominant win demonstrates their potential and sets a strong tone for their next match against ERA Infotech Ltd. on the 15th of this month at Bhawal Ground.