Zazai powers Dynamites

From not expecting to be a first-choice player for Dhaka Dynamites, Afghanistan's Hazratullah Zazai has become the player-of-the-match in the franchise's first two Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) games, the latest being yesterday's massive 105-run win over Khulna Titans in the day game in Mirpur.

It was Dhaka's biggest win in the BPL and overall the second-largest of the tournament.

The left-hander's 36-ball 57, which followed a 41-ball 78 in their opening match against Rajshahi Kings, powered the Dynamites to 192 for six before skipper Shakib Al Hasan's three-wicket haul helped shoot out the Titans for a lowly 87 in just 13 overs. The result meant that Dhaka have won both their games, with Khulna losing both theirs.

“I didn't think that I will play the first match. Then the coach said 'you will play'. The team includes [Ian] Bell, [Kieron] Pollard, [Andre] Russell and [Sunil] Narine and when I heard about my playing I became so happy and excited,” Zazai said after the game.

Led by Mahmudullah Riyad, the Titans would be cursing their shoddy fielding as Zazai was dropped  on 12 at mid-on by David Wiese in the second over from Shoriful Islam, an over that Zazai bookended with a huge six over long on in the first ball and a swivel-pull for six off the last.

Zazai then took on Shoriful in his next over, striking three sixes and two fours in a 27-run fifth over. He went on to hit a total of five sixes and three fours before being caught off Paul Stirling and leaving the score on 113 for three in the 12th over.

When asked whether he copies his idol Chris Gayle the left-hander said: “I just like him. I don't copy his shots.”

It was then Dhaka's two West Indians in Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell, who 50-run stand off just 31 balls to help post the big total.

Shakib then made up for a first-ball duck by taking the wickets Stirling, Junaid Siddique and Wiese as Khulna folded without a fight.