Published on 12:00 AM, January 08, 2020

Chattogram regain top spot

When on song, Chris Gayle can destroy the most potent of bowling attacks and as expected, the left-hander smashed three sixes in his first match for Chattogram Challengers in the ongoing Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL). However, the ‘Universe Boss’ walked back to the pavilion with a forlorn face as his innings lasted only 10 balls but his 23-run innings gave his side a flying start in chase of Rajshahi Royals’ 166. Chattogram rode on Lendl Simmons’s 51 and Imrul Kayes’s unbeaten 67 to win the match by seven wickets. Photo: Firoz Ahmed
Sports Reporter

Fifties from Imrul Kayes and Lendl Simmons helped Chattogram Challengers romp to a seven-wicket victory against Rajshahi Royals and regain their top spot in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) under lights at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.

Considering Chris Gayle’s past records in the BPL, the crowd would have hoped for a blistering innings from the West Indian, who was playing his first match of the edition for Chattogram yesterday. However, it was his fellow West Indian Simmons who hit a brilliant 43-ball 51 to help Chattogram get a flying start in chase of a challenging 166 for eight posted by Rajshahi.

Gayle did spark a few chants and cheers from the crowd as he struck three sixes and a solitary four before being dismissed for a 10-ball 23 in the fifth over. After that, it was Simmons and in-form batsman Imrul who strung together a 77-run second-wicket stand to help Chattogram assert their dominance. Even though Simmons was dismissed in the 13th over, Imrul remained unbeaten for a blazing 41-ball 67 to help Chattogram coast to victory with nine balls to spare.

Earlier, Rajshahi Royals opener Liton Das, who has been in a good form, picked up his second fifty as the right-hander helped Rajshahi get off to a decent start. Liton looked exquisite for his 45-ball 56 as he strung together a crucial 41-run third-wicket stand with all-rounder Shoaib Malik after Rajshahi had lost two for 53 inside eight overs.

The 25-year-old saw his innings, which included five boundaries and two maximums, end when he miscued a Ziaur Rahman delivery and was caught by Nurul Hasan in the 13th over. However, Malik’s 24-ball 28 and a quickfire eight-ball 21-run cameo from all-rounder Forhad Reza ensured Rajshahi finish with a challenging score on the board. For Chattogram, pacer Rubel Hossain remained the pick of their bowlers, returning impressive figures of three for 20 while Ziaur also impressed with three for 18 in three overs.

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