Dream debut for Sylhet

The organisers could not have asked for a better place to launch the fifth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League. A full-house, a new home team and a new venue surrounded by a lot of green made it quite an occasion to kick-start the slam-bang T20 competition, which has now become the most followed domestic sporting event in the country.

Making their debut as a franchise, Sylhet Sixers got off to a memorable start by defeating defending champions Dhaka Dynamites by nine wickets in the opening match at the purpose-built Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. There was no gala opening ceremony this time around, but the colourful presence of sports-savvy fans in the eastern headquarters of the country more than compensated for the fireworks normally associated with the money-spinning event.

There were also no fireworks from the giants of Dhaka, who after being sent in to bat, were restricted to 136 for seven. The Dhaka innings featured only eight fours and four sixes as the Shakib Al Hasan-led side were actually outsmarted by a canny Nasir Hossain. The wily off-spinner led the Sylhet bowling with such aplomb that it could have misled someone to believe that he was not captaining on the big stage for the first time. Opening the bowling, he removed both openers after which Dhaka could not recover.

Chasing a modest target, the home side reached 137 for one with 19 balls to spare. Openers Upul Tharanga and Andre Fletcher virtually toyed with the Dhaka bowlers in a 125-run stand before the West Indian was out for a 51-ball 63 that contained three massive sixes and five fours. Sri Lanka's Tharanga hit an unbeaten 69 off 48 balls. The left-hander struck five boundaries and a couple of sixes.

In the double-header on the opening day, Rajshahi Kings were pitted against Rangpur Riders under lights. Sent into bat, Rajshahi posted a fighting 154-8.