Khulna Titans’ losing streak finally ended on Tuesday after they beat Rajshahi Kings by 25 runs at Sylhet International Stadium in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
Taijul Islam and Junaid Khan starred with the ball – taking three wickets each – to help Titans taste their first victory of the season.
Kings put up a poor batting show chasing 128 as Titans bowlers tore through their batting line-up at regular intervals.
Junaid dismissed Laurie Evans in the first over. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the Kings captain, struck 23 off 16 balls but his efforts were not enough to help his side avoid their third loss of the season. Apart from him, Ryan Ten Doeschate (13), Christiaan Jonker (15), Arafat Sunny (15) and Kamrul Islam Rabbi (13) reached double digits.
The Kings batsmen failed to put up any resistance and were all-out for 103 in 19.5 overs.
Taijul bagged three wickets conceding 10 runs while Junaid took three for 26.
Earlier, Khulna Titans posted a total of 128/9. Ariful Haque was the top scorer, hitting 26 off 27 balls. He was also the only Titan batsman to score more than 20.
Miraz, Isuru Udana and Arafat Sunny took two wickets each for the Kings. Mustafizur Rahman took one.
Titans started their innings with a 15-run stand. Jahurul Islam fell as the first wicket putting just 13 on the board. His partner Junaid Siddique added 14. Dawid Malan (15), Nazmul Hossain Shanto (11) and David Wiese (13) were the others to reach double digits.
Khulna Titans will play their next match at the same venue on January 18 against former BPL champions Comilla Victorians at 7pm. Rajshahi Kings will face off against Dhaka Dynamites in their next game on January 16 in Sylhet at 1:30pm.
