Sports Reporter :
A five-wicket haul by debutante Afif Hossain powered Rajshahi Kings to earn a massive six-wicket victory over Chittagong Vikings in their crucial match of the AKS Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 Cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Saturday.
Afif Hossain bowled extremely well and finished his superb spell as 4-1-21-5. Afif Hossain was adjudged the Man of the Match.
Kesrick Williams gave him a good support to restrict Chittagong Vikings to a paltry total.
Williams bagged a pair of wickets at the cost of 11 runs.
Shoaib Malik of Chittagong Vikings fought back making a splendid 67 (not out). His 54-ball knock was laced with three sixes and three fours.
Afif Hossain dismissed Chris Gayle for five, Jahurul Islam for 13, Zakir Hasan for three, Saqlain Sajib for one and Imran Khan for naught.
Williams removed Tamim Iqbal for a duck and Taskin Ahmed for just two. Mehedi Hasan Miraz of Rajshahi dismissed Anamul Haque for eight and his teammate Nazmul Islam picked up Mohammad Nabi for 12.
Sent into bat first, Chittagong Vikings scored a fragile total of 111 for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
In reply, Rajshahi Kings sailed home making 112 for the loss of four wickets remaining with 37 balls.
Rajshahi made a modest start as opener Nurul Hasan (12) was bowled out by Saqlain Sajib when Rajshahi’s total was 32.
Then opener Mominul Haque’s innings was short-lived as he was bowled out by Saqlain Sajib when Rajshahi’s score was 37 for the loss of two wickets.
Then Sabbir Rahman and James Franklin contributed together 40 runs before Sabbir Rahman (8) was trapped leg before wicket by Imran Khan when Rajshai’s total was 77 for the loss of three wickets.
James Franklin played the key role to reach the winning target. He remained unbeaten with 63. His 27-ball hurricane innings was studded with four sixes and five fours.
Third-down Darren Sammy (3) was caught at the deep mid-wicket by Shoaib Malik off Imran Khan when Rajshahi’s score was 93 for the loss of four wickets.
Mominul Haque made 21 from 28 balls hitting three fours.
Saqlain Sajib and Imran Khan took two wickets each for nine and 30 runs respectively.
