BPL starts with contrasting affairs
There were contrasting scenes on the opening day of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) as the first game featured a low-scoring affair while the second fixture added some excitement with runs on the board at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
In the first game, Sylhet Strikers romped to a resounding eight-wicket victory against Chattogram Challengers. The evening fixture witnessed Rony Talukdar smash the fastest fifty by a Bangladeshi in the BPL, off just 19 balls, to help Rangpur Riders start the tournament with a 34-run win over defending champions Comilla Victorians.
Chattogram batters struggled on a Mirpur pitch that lived up to its reputation of keeping slow and low as they managed to post a meagre 89 for nine in 20 overs after being asked to bat. Sylhet seamer Rejaur Rahman Raja returned his career-best T20 figures.
With no scoreboard pressure, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza-led Sylhet reached the target with eight wickets and 45 balls to spare – courtesy of Najmul Hossain Shanto's unbeaten 43 off 41-run knock, laced with three boundaries and a maximum.
Chattogram's 89-run total was the lowest in an opening game in BPL's history, surpassing Rangpur Riders' 98 against Chittagong Vikings back in 2019 to the unwanted feat.
Chasing a lowly target, Sylhet lost Dutch opener Colin Ackerman early, but Shanto, along with Zakir Hasan, added 63 runs for the second wicket to help Sylhet cruise to victory. Zakir was dismissed after a 21-ball 27.
Earlier, Raja led the charge with the ball in hand for Sylhet as he remained the destroyer in chief, picking up four for 14 from his four overs while skipper Mashrafe ended with the figures of one for 18 in four overs.
Pakistani left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir also reached a milestone as he now stands alongside New Zealand's Jacob Oram for the most economical figure in BPL. Amir picked up two wickets conceding just seven runs from his four overs that included a maiden.
Only three Chattogram batters were able to hit double digits with Afif Hossain's 25 remaining the top score for his side.
In the second game, courtesy of Rony's 31-ball 67-run knock which included eleven fours and a six, Rangpur managed to post 176 for 5 in 20 overs. At one point it looked Rangpur would go on to post over 200-run mark but they lost way since Rony's departure.
Veteran Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik added 33 runs as Comilla came back well to concede 42 runs and pick up three wickets in the last five overs of innings.
Comilla, in reply, lost wickets at regular intervals. Imrul Kayes top-scored with 35 off 23 balls but eventually it was not enough for the holders to chase down a fighting total, and they were bundled out for 142 in the 20th over. Pacer Hasan Mahmud remained the pick of the bowlers for Rangpur with three scalps, while Robiul Haque and Sikandar Raza took two wickets apiece.
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