DHAKA, Aug 25, 2026 (BSS) - After winning three matches on the trot, 
Bangladesh High Performance (HP) team endured their first defeat in the Top 
End T20 tournament as Adelaide Strikers Academy handed them 21-run drubbing 
at Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin today.

This is also the first time so far in the tournament that they couldn't chase 
a target, having earlier defeated Nepal, Hobart Hurricanes and Victoria CA 
after batting second.

Considering the recent success in chasing, Bangladesh opted to bowl first but 
Adelaide Academy put up a strong batting performance to rack up 164-9. 
Bangladesh eventually managed to score 143-9 before losing the game by 21 
runs.

Pacer Abdul Gaffar Saqlain claimed 4-21 and spinner Mohammad Rubel returned 
figures of 3-30 to push the Australian domestic team hard but a combined 
effort saw them past 150-run mark.
 
Opener Thomas Kelly was the top-scorer with 20 ball-38, sending the ball 
across the ropes for six times. Harry Hunter made 35 while Noah McFadyen 
chipped-in-with 31.

Bangladesh made a horrible start losing inform opener Jisan Alam for the 
first-ball-duck. But Habibur Rahman Sohan and Ariful appeared to bring the 
side back on track with calculative cricket.

However, Lachlan Bangs broke through with the wicket of Sohan who made 23 and 
sparked a collapse that saw Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals 
despite Ariful's excellent batting.

Bangs finally got the wicket of Ariful after he made 66 off 54 with five 
fours and two sixes. Shamim Patwari scored 18 and was the only batter to 
reach double digits after Ariful and Sohan.

Bangs ended the game with 4-29 while Henry Thornton and Waheguru Dhillon took 
two wickets apiece.