Leaving his horror performance in India behind, Imrul Kayes hit 38 ball-61 to lead Chattogram Challengers to a facile five-wicket win over Sylhet Thunder in the opening game of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur here on Wednesday.
Being sent to bat first, Sylhet Thunder compiled a respectable 162-4 but Chattogram, led by captain Kayes made a mockery of it, reaching the target in 19 overs with 163-5.
Kayes’s match-winning knock indeed trumped the
eye-catching 48 ball-84 not out of Mithun, who single-handedly helped Sylhet reach thus far when other batsmen failed to pick up the momentum in a pitch completely favourable to the batsmen.
Chattogram however made a horrendous start in pursuit of the chase as they were reduced to 42-3 in six overs. Left-arm spinner Nazmul Islam Opu removed Junaid Siddique and Nasir Hossain in consecutive deliveries to give the double blow first before Krishmar Santokie, the West Indian slow medium bowler dismissed Avishka Fernando who smashed three fours and three sixes in his 33 off 26. The situation worsened when Sylhet captain Mosaddek Hossain Saikat took out the wicket of Ryan Burl for 3, with Chattogram at 64-4. As things looked ominous, Imrul Kayes came up with his dazzling best. Bringing up all kind of shots from his repertoire, he came down heavily on the bowlers to make them disarray.
He got a perfect foil to him in Chadwick Walton and the duo combined for an 86-run for the fifth wicket stand to take the side on the verge of victory.
Fast bowler Ebadat Hossain dismissed Kayes, after he struck two fours and five sixes in his 38 ball-61. However Walton remained not out on 49 off 30 with three fours and two sixes to help the side sail the home with ease.
Earlier, Mithun’s show gave Sylhet a respectable total after a slow start. His 48 ball-84 not out in which he struck four fours and five sixes, indeed propelled the side past 150 as the other batsmen couldn’t bat at higher strike rate in a pitch conducive to the batsman. Opener Johnson Charles’s 23 ball-35 was the only other innings apart from Mithun, who made the strike rate over 100.
Rubel Hossain claimed 2-27 while Nasum Ahmed and Ryad Emrit picked up one wicket apiece for Chattogram.
