Liton stakes his claim
Liton Das repaid faith of the selectors as the wicketkeeper-batsman struck a magnificent 32-ball 61 in the third T20I to help Bangladesh clinch the three-match T20I series by 19 runs through the Duckworth-Lewis method in Lauderhill yesterday.
The stylish right-hander was instrumental in providing Bangladesh a flying start which began with a swept four off leg-spinner Samuel Badree in the first ball of the innings.
Along with fellow opener Tamim Iqbal, Liton laid the platform for a big total as the pair added 61 runs for the first wicket inside five overs.
Despite losing his partner, the right-hander went on to register his maiden fifty in limited-overs cricket which powered a total of 184 for five -- the highest score of the series.
"It is definitely a big win for our team. They are a very good team and the World champions. The pitch was similar to the surface in our country. This is my first fifty and I'm lucky,” player-of-the-match Liton said yesterday.
There were a lot of concerns from the team management about finding a stable opening partner for Tamim in all three formats as Soumya Sarkar was yet again unable to prove his worth, but Liton grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
This was a performance that has come on the back of a terrific domestic performance -- Liton was the highest run-getter in the Bangladesh Cricket League, scoring 779 runs in six games including a double hundred. He was also prolific in the Dhaka Premier League, scoring 537 runs in 10 games at an average of 59.66 for Prime Doleshwar.
Liton however was unable to score big during the two match Test series despite getting starts and also in the first two T20Is where he scored 24 and one but the right hander will surely gain some confidence after his maiden fifty in the white-ball cricket. And if he can continue in this vein, it may also solve a long-standing problem.
