Mehedi Khulna’s surprise package
Two local players -- Mehedi Hasan Miraz and Nazmul Hossain -- fired on all cylinders for Khulna Tigers yesterday as the Mushfiqur Rahim-led side secured a thumping eight-wicket victory over Sylhet Thunder during their Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) encounter under the lights at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
In chase of the modest 157 for four posted by Sylhet, Khulna got off to a flying start with surprise opener Mehedi pairing up with Nazmul to string together a boundary-filled 115-run stand. Although Nazmul fell after a 31-ball 41 in the 13th over, Mehedi remained unbeaten on a 62-ball 87 to help guide his team to a comfortable victory with 13 balls to spare. Mehedi, who laced his innings with nine boundaries and three sixes, looked exquisite from the beginning.
Earlier, after being asked to back, Sylhet began their innings in decent fashion. Opener Andre Fletcher was looking good before he ultimately fell prey to Robbie Frylinck in the ninth over after scoring a 24-ball 37, featuring four boundaries and two maximums. Rubel Mia had partnered with Fletcher at the top for a 62-run opening stand before being sent back to the dressing room in the 14th over after a 44-ball 39. However, two unbeaten knocks -- a 20-ball 26 from Sherfane Rutherford and 18-ball 23 from skipper Mosaddek Hossain -- helped Sylhet post their modest total.
While local players were awarded for their deeds in the night game, it was quite the opposite in the day match yesterday. An all-round performance from Rajshahi Royals’ foreigner recruit Shoaib Malik trumped Soumya Sarkar’s unbeaten 48-ball 88 as Rajshahi defeted Cumilla Warriors by 15 runs at the same venue.
Comments