Sports Reporter :
Khulna Tigers earned a thrilling five-wicket win over Rajshahi Royals in their Twenty20 cricket match of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram on Tuesday.
Chasing Rajshahi’s fighting total of 189 for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs, Khulna Tigers reached the winning spot making 192 for the loss of five wickets when they had just two balls to spare.
Klulna Tigers faced an early disaster losing two wickets for 25 runs.
Later, Rilee Rossouw and Mushfiqur Rahim repaired the damage adding together 72 runs for the third wicket partnership before Rossouw was caught behind by Liton Das off Kamrul Islam Rabbi when Khluna’s score was 97 for the loss of three wickets.
Mushfiqur Rahim played the key role to earn the victory.
Mushfiqur Rahim clubbed the stormy 96. His 51-ball innings was ornamented with four sixes and nine fours. Mushfiqur Rahim was adjudged the Man of the Match for his match-winning innings.
Rossouw hit a polished 42. His 35-ball innings was laced with five fours and a sixer.
Third-down Shamsur Rahman made 29 from 20 deliveries featuring three fours and sixer.
Andre Russell of Rajshahi Royals got two wickets conceding 41 runs, while Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Afif Hossain and Ravi Bopara picked up one wicket each for 18, 24 and 32 runs respectively.
Rajshahi Royal had a shaky start as they lost early two wickets for 26 runs.
Then Afif Hossain and Shoaib Malik mended early damage contributing together 40 runs in the third wicket stand before Afif Hossain (19) was caught by Shafiul Islam off Shahidul Islam when Rajshahi’s total was 66 for the loss of three wickets.
After dismissal of Afif, Shoaib Malik and Ravi Bopara built a worthy partnership. They put on together 123 runs for the fourth wicket partnership before Shoaib Malik was caught by Najmul Hossain off Mohammad Amir when the team’s total was 172 for the loss of four wickets.
Shoaib Malik hammered a hurricane 87. His 50-ball innings saw four sixes and eight fours.
Ravi Bopara remained unbeaten with 40. His 26-ball knock had two fours and two sixes.
Mohammad Amir of Khulna Tigers bagged two wickets conceding 36 runs, while Robbie Frylink and Shahidul Islam took one wicket each for 29 and 35 runs respectively.
