Prasanna carnage not enough

Khulna Titans survived a late Seekkuge Prasanna assault to post a nervy nine-run win against Dhaka Dynamites and joined them at the top of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) table today.

Defending a fighting total of 157-5 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong, Khulna, led by Mahmudullah Riyad, looked well on course for a comfortable victory when they reduced Dhaka to 83-7.

However, Prasanna came into bat at number nine and the experienced Sri Lankan all-rounder threatened to take the game away with a power-packed 53 off only 22 balls that contained seven savage hits over the rope.

In an astonishing display of power-hitting, Prasanna took the game to the last over, leaving his side with nine runs to win. And with Prasanna on strike, an improbability looked a reality for Dhaka.

But Khluna captain Mahmudullah, who previously took the ball in his hand and won closely-fought games in the last over, had other ideas in mind this time around. He gave the ball to West Indies paceman Kevon Cooper and the right-armer struck with the first ball of the over.

It was a length delivery and Prasanna tried to heave it over long-off but the ball sailed straight to the throat of Ariful Haq who was placed on the edge of the boundary. When the catch was taken cleanly Prasanna slumped to his knees in disbelief. An amazing batting display where a batsman hit seven sixes against no boundaries ended in anticlimactic fashion.

The Khulna Titans, who are now level with Dhaka and Rangpur Riders on eight points each, also opened up the prospect of taking a solo lead since they have played one game than Dhaka.