Sports Reporter :
An all-round performance by Mohammad Saifuddin of Bangladesh powered Atlanta Fire to earn a massive 74-run victory over Fort Lauderdale Lions in their match of the United States of America (USA) Minor Cricket League on Sunday last. The competition is a 20-over-a-side tournament.
Batting first Atlanta Fire piled up a formidable 236 runs for the loss of four wickets in the stipulated 20 overs and then restricted Fort Lauderdale Lions to 162 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs.
American Steven Taylor of Atlanta Fire cracked a windy 112 runs using just 61 deliveries.
Mohammad Saifuddin hit a stormy 32 runs capitalising 18 balls including three sixes and two fours.
Mohammad Saifuddin picked up the wicket of Tagenarine Chanderpaul in his first ball of his first over. Tagenarine Chanderpaul was dismissed for a duck.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul is the son of great all-rounder Shivnarine Chanderpaul of West Indies.
Later, Mohammad Saifuddin captured another wicket of Lauderdale Lions in his last spell. Saifuddin captured two wickets in the space of 11 runs in his four overs with a maiden over.
It may be mentioned that Mohammad Saifuddin returned to the international cricket after recovery from injury. He played against Zimbabwe at home. But he was not included in the Bangladesh National Cricket squad for the outgoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup last year as he failed to fulfill the expectation of the Team Management Committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. After a long gap, Mohammad Saifuddin showed a gimmick performance.