Sports Reporter :
Khulna Titans beat Rajshahi Kings by two wickets in their match of the AKS Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Twenty20 Cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Tuesday.
Sent into bat first, Rajshahi Kings made a fighting total of 166 for the loss of eight wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.
In reply, Khulna Titans reached the winning target scoring 168 for the loss of eight wickets when they had just four balls to spare.
Khulna had an unhappy start as they lost two wickets for 13 runs.
Then Mahmudullah Riyad and Rilee Rossouw salvaged their team from debacle contributing together 67 runs for the third wicket partnership before Rossouw (20) was caught at the cover by Darren Sammy off Mehidy Hasan Miraz when Khulna’s score was 80 for the loss of three wickets.
Mahmudullah Riyad hit a marvelous 56. His 44-ball innings was ornamented with eight fours and a sixer. It was Riyad’s 10th T20 half century. He was cleanly bowled out by Hossain Ali when Khulna’s total was 107 for the loss of five wickets.
Later, Ariful Haque played the key role for Khulna’s victory. He remained unbeaten with 43. His 19-ball innings was belted with four fours and two sixes. Ariful Haque was adjudged the Man of the Match.
Mohammad Sami of Rajshahi Kings grabbed three wickets at the cost of 29 runs, while James Franklin begged a couple of wickets instead of 30 runs.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Dwayne Smith and Hossain Ali got one wicket conceding 24, 26 and 38 runs respectivey.
Earlier, Rajshahi Kings faced an early batting collapse losing three wickets for 21 runs.
Then Dwayne Smith and Mushfiqur Rahim repaired the damage adding together 76 runs for the fourth wicket stand before Smith was caught at the deep square leg by Nazmul Shanto off Afif Hossain when Rajshahi’s score was 97 for the loss of four wickets.
Smith hammered a hurricane 62. His 36-ball innings was studded with four sixes and seven fours. It was Smith’s 44th T20 half century.
Mushfiqur Rahim hit a captain’s knock of 55. His 33-ball knock was decorated with four fours and three sixes. It was Mushfiq’s 13th T20 half century.
After Sammy’s dismissal, Mushfiqur Rahim and James Franklin added together 44 runs for the fifth wicket stand before Mushfiqur Rahim was caught at the deep midwicket by Ariful Haque off Abu Jayed when Rajshahi’s tital was 141 for the loss of five wickets.
James Faranklin remained unbeaten with 29.
After dismissal of Mushfiqur Rahim, Rajshahi batsmen failed to build any notable partnership.
Junaid Khan of Khulna Titans claimed four wickets at the cost of 27 runs, while Abu Jayed bagged a pair of wickets instead of 29 runs.
Afif Hossain and Carlos Brathwaite took one wicket each for 23 and 33 runs respectively.
