Sports Reporter :
Rangpur Riders recorded a sensational three-run victory over Dhaka Dynamites in their match of the AKS Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Twenty20 Cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the city’s Mirpur on Tuesday.
Chasing Rangpur’s fighting total of 142 off 19.2 overs, Dhaka Dynamites were bowled out for 139 off 20 overs.
Rangpur Riders had a modest start as opener Brendon McCullum (6) was dismissed by Shahid Afridi when Rangpur’s score was 36.
Then Chris Gayle and Mohammad Mithun added together 35 runs before Gayle was caught at the deep midwicket by Abu Hider off Mosaddek Hossain when Rangpur’s total was 71 for the loss of two wickets.
Gayle hit a superb 51. His 28-ball stormy innings was studded with four sixes and five fours. It was Gayle’s 67th T20 half century.
Later, batsmen of Rangpur Riders could not build any notable partnership.
Mohammad Mithun, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Thisara Perera added 22, 15 and 15 runs respectively.
Shakib Al Hasan was the day’s most successful bowler. The skipper of Dhaka Dynamites captured five wickets at the cost of 16 runs, while Shahid Afridi bagged two wickets instead of 39 runs.
Mosaddek Hossain and Mohammad Amir took one wicket for four and 34 runs respectively.
Dhaka Dynamites had a sorrow start as the lost early two wickets for 25 runs.
Then Ewin Lewis and Jahurul Islam put on together 44 runs for the third wicket partnership before Lewis was trapped leg before wicket by Sohag Gazi when Dhaka’s score was 69 for the loss of three wickets. Lewis made 28 from 25 balls featuring three sixes.
After Ewin’s departure, Jahurul Islam was cleanly bowled out by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza when Dhaka’s total was 75 for the loss of four wickets.
Jahurul hit 29 from 19 balls including four fours and a sixer.
Shahid Afridi scored 21 from 15 balls with two sixes and one four before he was bowled out by Rubel Hossain when Dhaka’s total was 111 for the loss of six wickets.
After removal of Afridi, no Dhaka batsmen got success with the willow.
Specially Kieron Pollard wasted some deliveries which paid heavily for Dhaka Dynamites.
Sohag Gazi, Rubel Hossain, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Thisara Perera of Rangpur Rifers bagged a pair of wickets each for 18, 29, 30 and 37 runs respectively.
Besides, Lasith Malinga got one wicket instead of 20 runs.
Chris Gayle of Rangpur Riders was adjudged the Man of the Match.
