Sports Reporter :
Rajshahi Kings reached the final of the AKS Bangladesh Premier League Twenty20 Cricket crushing Khulna Titans by seven wickets in their qualifier match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Wednesday.
After winning in the coin-session, Khulna Titans decided to bat first and scored a modest total of 125 for the loss of nine wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.
In reply, Rajshahi Kings coasted home making 129 for the loss of three wickets when they had four balls to spare.
Rajshahi Kings had a sorrow start as they lost two openers Mominul Haque and Nurul Hasan when their score was 34 for the loss of two wickets.
Then Afif Hossain and Sabbir Rahman contributed together 33 runs for the third wicket stand before Afif Hossain was trapped leg before wicket by Mahmudullah Riyad when Rajshahi’s total was 67 for the loss of three wickets.
After departure of Afif, Sabbir Rahman and James Franklin contributed together 62 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket stand.
Sabbir Rahman top-scored with 43. He hit two fours and a sixer in his unbeaten 52-ball knock, while James Franklin remained unbeaten with 30.
Khulna Titans faced an early debacle as they lost three wickets for 17 runs.
Then Nicholas Pooran and Mahmudullah Riyad put on together 37 runs in the fourth wicket stand before Pooran was caught at the long-off by Farhad Reza off Afif Hossain when Khulna’s score was 54 for the loss of four wickets.
Later, Khulna batsmen failed to build any notable partnership.
Fifth-down Ariful Haque remained unbeaten with 32. His 29-ball innings was studded with two fours and a sixer.
Nicholas Pooran hit a quick-fire 22 from ten balls featuring two fours and two sixes, while Mahmudullah Riyad made a notable 22 from 28 balls including two fours. He was caught by Nazmul Islam off Samit Patel.
Samit Patel grabbed three wickets at the cost of 19 runs, while Darren Sammy, Afif Hossain, Kesrick Williams, Farhad Reza took one wicket each for eight, nine, 18 and 28 runs respectively.
