DPL T20 off to a cracking start
The inaugural Dhaka Premier League (DPL) T20 witnessed an exciting start with a hattrick, a tied match being decided by a super over, two fifties and a few quick-fire cameos being just a few of the exciting elements that took place on the opening day of the T20 tournament.
In addition, a total of 39 players player their first-ever T20 matches yesterday and perhaps this was the perfect start to a competition which has long been said to have lost its glamour.
The match between Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club and Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan (BKSP) at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah could be considered as the most exciting fixture of the day.
Doleshwar pacer Manik Khan bagged a hattrick, becoming the second bowler to do so on T20 debut following Dhaka Dynamites' Aliss Al Islam, to help his side draw the match before they eventually won it via a super over.
Electing to bat, Doleshwar suffered a batting collapse but Mahmudul Hasan's 43-balll 41 saw the side post a low 111 for nine. To help defend the low total, Doleshwar pacer Manik scalped the wickets of Fahad Ahmed and Parvez Hossain Emon with the last two deliveries of the very first over.
Manik them scalped the wicket of Ratul Khan with the first ball of his next over to complete his hattrick which saw BKSP reeling at three for three after 2.1 overs. Shamim Hossain's 45 and Akbar Ali's 42 in the middle took BKSP close to victory but they collapsed again at the death, leading to the tie. Doleshwar won in the ensuing super-over.
Earlier at the same venue, skipper Shuvagata Hom's 10-ball 32 helped Shinepukur Cricket Club registered a five-wicket victory against Legends of Rupganj in a match which was reduced to 13 overs a side due to rain.
Sent in to bat, Rupganj managed to post 115 for five, courtesy of a quick-fire unbeaten 46 from Shahriar Nafees. However, Nafees' efforts were later trumped by Shuvagata's cameo at the death, which featured three sixes and two boundaries, as his side won comfortably.
In the first game of the day at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, medium pacer Shahidul Islam picked up figures of four for 36 to help Sheikh Jamal win by 11 runs against Khelaghar Samaj Kallyan Samity.
Skipper Nurul Hasan top-scored with 43 runs while Nasir Hossain scored 34 runs in the middle as the side posted a challenging total of 169 for five.
Even though Khelaghar's debutant opener Robiul Islam hit a fierce 69, a furious onslaught from Sheikh Jamal pacer Shahidul Islam saw the side restricted to 158 for five.
In the last fixture of the day, Sabbir Rahman carried his good form from New Zealand to the DPL, striking 58 runs as Abahani won by 25 runs against Brothers Union in Mirpur. Brothers' batsman Yasir Ali top scored for the side with 41 runs but it was unfortunately not enough to surmount Abahani's 150 for seven total.