A brilliant half-century from Sabbir Rahman (79) helped Barisal Bulls register a thrilling win over Rangpur Riders in Qualifier 2 to advance to the final of Bangladesh Premier League.

Helped by Rahman’s 79, Bulls chased down the stiff target of 161 with three balls to spare losing five wickets in the process.

Rangpur Riders, who won the toss and chose to bat, put up 160/9 in 20 overs. Riders were helped to the competitive score by LMP Simmons who scored 73 off 57 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes.

The Riders were off to a good start, scoring 52 runs for the first wicket in 8.3 overs. However, they could not capitalise on the good start as they lost wickets at regular intervals with Bulls’ bowler KK Cooper doing the damage with a haul of 4/39. Simmons carried on, scoring a vital 73 runs, helping Riders to a competitive score of 160/9 in 20 overs.

In reply, Bulls made a poor start to the chase, losing both the openers Rony Talukdar and S Prasanna for 10 in 2.3 overs. Rahman then combined with Shahriar Nafees (44) to put up a 124-run partnership for the third wicket in 13.5 overs. However, the dismissal of both the set batsmen in space of 8 balls put the Bulls in a spot of bother.

But West Indian cricketers RR Emrit and KK Cooper saw Bulls home with some lusty hits in the death overs.

Barisal Bulls will take on Comilla Victorians in the final on December 15.

Brief scores: Rangpur Riders 160/9 (LMP Simmons 73, KK Cooper 4/39) lost to Barisal Bulls 163/5 (Sabbir Rahman 79) by five wickets.

-Source: CricWizz

Comilla Victorians has set a target of 164 against Rangpur Rides in the qualifier one match in BPL season 3 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur on Saturday.

Comilla Victorians opener duo Liton Das and Imrul Kayes have given a flying start. Imrul Kayes played a ran a ball innings of 67   with seven boundaries and two massive sixes while his opening partner Liton Das scored 28 runs  featuring one boundary. Overseas player Zaidi played a cameo innings of 40 runs consist of four boundaries and two huge sixes while Shuvagata contributed 12 runs to set a target of 164 against Rangpur.

Rangpur Riders bowlers failed to maintain their line and length in the first 10 overs but they came back sharply later in the game as overseas player Thisara perera bagged a 5 wicket haul in 4 overs for just 26 runs while Spinner Sajib and Nabi took one wicket each for the team.

Earlier, Rangpur Riders skipper ace all-rounder Shakib-al-hasan has won the toss and elected to field.

Comilla Victorians Team

Abu Hider, Ahmed Shehzad, Alok Kapali, Ariful Haque, Ashar Zaidi, Dhiman Ghosh, Imrul Kayes, KMDN Kulasekara, Liton Das†, Mahmudul Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza*, Mukhtar Ahmed, Naeem Islam jnr, AD Russell, Shoaib Malik, Shuvagata Hom, DI Stevens, Sunzamul Islam

Rangpur Riders Team

Abdullah Al Mamun, Abu Jayed, Al-Amin, Arafat Sunny, Jahurul Islam, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Mithun†, Mohammad Nabi, Muktar Ali, Murad Khan, NLTC Perera, DJG Sammy, Saqlain Sajib, SMSM Senanayake, Shakib Al Hasan*, LMP Simmons, Soumya Sarkar, Wahab Riaz

Jahurul Islam held the batting line-up in shape before Mohammad Nabi’s accurate off-spin gave Rangpur Riders a 21-run win over Comilla Victorians. The win put Rangpur atop the points table with 14 points, two ahead of second-placed Comilla.

For once Comilla couldn’t get control with their bowling as Rangpur piled 153 for six in 20 overs on another double-paced pitch. Imrul Kayes’ hard-hitting 38 gave them a good start, but the rest of the batting line-up were caught in the rut before giving their wickets away.

That they posted a competitive total was courtesy Jahurul, who played his best knock of the tournament so far and is aiming at regaining his spot in the national team for the Asia Cup T20 and World T20. Jahurul previously had two match-winning efforts against Chittagong Vikings and Dhaka Dynamites.

He got to work in the second over when opener Soumya Sarkar checked drove Abu Hider to Shuvagata Hom at cover. In Hider’s next over, Jahurul scooped, slogged and flicked for three boundaries in a row. Lendl Simmons watched the show briefly from the other end, before being sent back in the seventh over for 13.

Shakib got stuck into paceman Kamrul Islam Rabbi for two fours before slogging one to deep midwicket. When Andre Russell took a stunning catch at the long-off boundary to get rid of Thisara Perera in the 13th over, Rangpur were in the dumps. Jahurul however kept finding the boundaries and duly reached his fifty off 43 balls. He added 39 runs for the fifth wicket with Darren Sammy, who made 24 off 20 balls with two fours and a towering six, to revive the innings.

Jahurul was aggressive on anything short and his only six came off Russell when he smashed him over midwicket in the penultimate over. Hider finished with two wickets while Malik, Zaidi, Russell and Rabbi took one each. Mashrafe bowled one over although he is carrying a grade 1 hamstring tear.

Comilla’s chase started with an action-packed 20-minute from Kayes. He smacked Shakib through point and backward square-leg in the first over before latching on to Arafat Sunny. The treatment continued in the next over when Kayes hit two fours between point and cover. He was dismissed off Sammy’s first ball, giving third-man a simple catch after making 38 off 20 balls with six fours and a six.

Comilla then lost three quick wickets. Mahmudul Hasan was given out leg-before before Nabi removed Ahmed Shehzad and Zaidi. Shuvagata Hom and Russell tried to give the chase some impetus with a six each, but fell in the 13th and 16th overs. Mashrafe Mortaza, who has shown sparks of brilliance with the bat in the tournament, also struck a six over long-off before falling to Saqlain Sajib, all in the same over.

Their last hope was Shoaib Malik who fell in the 18th over but it was Hider who struck Sammy for two sixes in an 18-run penultimate over, to bring the equation down to 24 off the final over. But Perera removed Dhiman Ghosh with a superb yorker off the first ball and Rabbi in the fifth delivery to seal the deal

Rangpur Riders team had a relatively easy day on the field as they hardly faced any trouble in chasing the relatively easy target of 136 runs by Dhaka Dynamites.

Dhaka Dynamites won the toss and elected to bat first at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. Openers Shamsur Rahman and Shadman Islam began the proceeding for the Dynamites but could not build on a good partnership. Islam (16 runs from 20 balls) was run out by Soumya Sarkar in the fourth over. Rahman could also not sustain at the crease very long and was dismissed by all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. It was a start which Rangpur Riders skipper would have anticipated after losing the toss. Shykat Ali (18 runs from 13 balls) looked solid but lost his wicket to Darren Sammy after he tried to be too aggressive.

But, leader Kumar Sangakkara and Nasir Hossain stabled the inning with a valuable 45 runs partnership in between them. Both scored at a brisk run-rate and did let the Riders bowlers totally dominate them any further in the match. However, Sangakkara left the job half done after he tried to steal a quick single off Arafat Sunny’s bowling. But, Shakib, standing at mid-on was quick, scooped the ball and hit straight at Sanga’s end. Sanga put a good dive but was caught short in the end.

Nasir Hossain (30 runs from 28 balls) and Ryan ten Doeschate (6 runs from 12 balls) could not do anything great to take forward the innings. Doeschate’s stay at the crease during the crucial time was short and lethargic while the former also departed soon after Sanga’s dismissal. Both the batsmen lost their wickets to Arafat Sunny.

Mosaddek Hossain (13 runs 10 balls) came in at number seven and made a small yet valuable contribution. His wicket fell with just one over left in the first innings. Dhaka Dynamites could eventually manage only 135 runs after the end of the stipulated overs.

Arafat Sunny (2/29) was the best bowler for Rangpur Riders but was little expensive as he conceded 29 runs in 3 overs. Afghan off-spinner Mohd. Nabi was also expensive as he conceded 18 runs in 2 overs. Otherwise, every other bowler was very economical.

In reply, the Rangpur Riders had a decent start. The openers, however, did not look very comfortable and were just managing to keep the run rate going. Soon, Abul Hasan brought the first breakthrough for the Dynamites. Soumya Sarkar lofted the ball straight to mid-off to put an end to his sluggish innings of 21 from 27 balls. But, this fall of wicket brought Jahurul Islam to the crease who batted throughout the chase and remained not out to see his team reach home easily.

The ninth over, saw the fall of Lendl Simmons (18 runs from 22 balls). Abul Hasan managed to strike twice. The skipper Shakib Al Hasan was a failure with the bat as he had a very short-lived stay in the middle after getting caught and bowled by Mustafizur Rahman. But, all-rounder Darren Sammy played a supportive knock of 23 off 21 balls to help Riders come close to the target, However, Sammy was cleaned up by the tall Pakistan fast bowler Mohd. Irfan off the final ball of the 15th over. But the job was almost done. T. Perera (8 runs from 8 balls) stayed back till the end with Jahurul Islam (35 runs from 26 balls) and finished the task comfortably to win by 6 wickets.

Abul Hasan (2/25) was the most successful bowler for the Dynamites while Mohd. Irfan (1/22) was the most economical.

Both teams needed to win desperately, but Rangpur Riders edged past the Dynamites very easily today to keep their hopes of reaching the play-offs alive. Dhaka Dynamite had a strong chance of strengthing their chance of reaching playoffs but their fate now hangs in doubts and their journey in the BPL 3 looks almost over.

Brief Scores:

Dhaka Dynamites – 135/7 in 20 overs (Nasir Hossain 30; A Sunny 2/29)

Rangpur Riders – 136/4 in 18.2 overs (Jahurul Islam 35; A Hasan 2/25)

Man of the Match: Jahurul Islam (Rangpur Riders)

SOURCE : Cric Tracker

Rangpur Riders to play against Barishal Bulls in the last day of second phase of the 19th match of BPL season 3 at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong on Thursday.

Rangpur Riders led by the world no. one all-rounder Shakib al Hasan. They have smashed Chittagong Vikings by 9 wicket in their previous match. They have played 6 matches so far and won 4 match. Riders sealed the 3rd position in the point table.

On the other hand Mahmudullah Riyad leading Barishal Bulls, who earns a massive win by 9 wicket against Dhaka Dynamites in their last match. They have won 4 matches out of 6 matches. Bulls sealed 2nd position in the point table.

Soumya Sarkar: Rangpur Riders Opener Soumya Sarkar claimed half century on his last match against Chittagong Vikings. He scored 58* runs on 56 balls with 8 fours and 1 six.

Elvin Lewis: Barisal Bulls opening batsman Elvin Lewis claimed maiden century on the tournament. The Caribbean batsman scored 101* from just 65 balls 7 fours and half dozen huge Sixes on the last match against Dhaka Dynamites.

Pitch Report:

This is the 7th match and last day of second phase of the tournament. It should be a good batting track with extra bounce and spin we have seen in this ground. Due factor may force the both opponent team captain choose to field first.

Squad:

Rangpur Riders Team

Abdullah Al Mamun, Abu Jayed, Al-Amin, Arafat Sunny, Jahurul Islam, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Mithun†, Mohammad Nabi, Muktar Ali, Murad Khan, NLTC Perera, DJG Sammy, Saqlain Sajib, SMSM Senanayake, Shakib Al Hasan*, LMP Simmons, Soumya Sarkar, Wahab Riaz

Barisal Bulls Team

Al-Amin Hossain, KK Cooper, N Dutta, CH Gayle, Imad Wasim, E Lewis, Mahmudullah*, Mehedi Maruf, Mohammad Sami, Nadif Chowdhury, S Prasanna, Rony Talukdar†, Sabbir Rahman, Sajedul Islam, Shahriar Nafees, Sharifullah, Taijul Islam, BRM Taylor

The match is scheduled to begin at 14:00 local | 10:00 GMT and Channel 9 will telecast the match live.

Opener Soumya Sarkar fifty has sealed win for Rangpur Riders against Chittagong Vikings  in the second phase of  the fifteenth match of BPL 3 at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium, Chittagong on Tuesday.

To chase a total of 112 runs, The Rangpur opener duo Soumya and Jahurul made a 100 run opening partnership for the team. Jahurul scored 47 runs with four fours and one six while Soumya made 58* which consist of eight fours and one six.

However, the Rangpur Riders won the match by nine wickets.

The Chittagong Vikings pacer Shafiul took one wicket for the franchise team.

In the first innings, Tamim was the top score with 36 runs while  his opening partner  Dishan made 18 runs with three fours. Kamran Akmal and Anamul contributed 12 and 14 runs individually for the franchise team. Naeem later contributed 16* runs to set a defend able target of 112.

Rangpur Riders Spinner Sunny and Shakib bagged two wickets each while oversea player Nabi and Perera took one wicket each for the franchise team. Sajib also picked up one wicket.

Earlier, Chittagong Vikings Captain Tamim Iqbal won the toss and has elected to bat first against Rangpur Riders.

 Rangpur Riders Team

Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun†, Jahurul Islam, Misbah-ul-Haq, NLTC Perera, Arafat Sunny, Saqlain Sajib, Muktar Ali, Shakib Al Hasan*, DJG Sammy, Mohammad Nabi, Al-Amin, Murad Khan, LMP Simmons, SMSM Senanayake, Abu Jayed, Abdullah Al Mamun, Wahab Riaz

Chittagong Vikings Team

Tamim Iqbal*, TM Dilshan, Kamran Akmal†, Anamul Haque, Naeem Islam, Ziaur Rahman, Mohammad Amir, Shafiul Islam, Asif Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Asif Ahmed, CK Kapugedera, Enamul Haque jnr, Elias Sunny, BMAJ Mendis, Yasir Ali, E Chigumbura

Rangpur Riders moved to the top of the charts after they completed a sweeping victory over Chittagong Vikings by 9 wickets and 3 overs to spare.

111-7 was what Chittagong Vikings posted and they needed to bowl well in order to defend it. The Riders probably had other plans on it, and the openers Jahurul and Soumya put up the first 100-run opening stand of the Bangladesh Premier League 2015 and the highest partnership of 102 in this season to ensure a wonderful win over Chittagong. Chittagong has now lost 4 consecutive matches and has a single win in the six matches they played till now.

Tamim still leads the run scorers list, but his team now lies at the bottom of the points table and will need to win each of the matches they play from tomorrow to stay in the run. Soumya Sarkar brought up his first fifty of BPL 2015 and stayed not out at 58, plus flourished a sweep towards backward long leg for a four to finish off the match. Jahurul also scored a well-made 47, before perishing to Shafiul.

The Vikings’ bowlers found themselves struggling badly against the Riders openers, as they looked to play watchfully and not donate wickets this time around. They did well in this part, and won the match convincingly enough to move themselves up the points table.

Soumya Sarkar was adjudged the Player of the Match for his watchful innings of 58 runs that led the Riders to a good win after they finished the Dhaka phase with a bad loss.

Source: TigerCricket

Tigers limited-over and Comilla Victorians captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza defended his embattled teammate Shakib al Hasan after the mercurial all-rounder received a one-match suspension for using abusive words towards the on-field umpire during their last Thursday’s Bangladesh Premier League encounter against Sylhet Super Stars.

Rangpur Riders captain Shakib was also fined Tk20,000 after he pleaded guilty to the offence. Match referee Selim Shahed imposed the ban and the fine and Shakib duly sat out the Riders’ yesterday’s tie against Comilla Victorians with former Pakistani captain Misbah-ul Haq acting as his deputy.

“Shakib is not like this (violent). He does not usually show his reaction in the field. At times, you might lose your temper. Shakib’s previous indiscretions are different to this one. Every one of them was different. Naturally, if you commit the same mistake thrice questions will arise. I am a bit confused but I am sure he did not want to do this. I do not know what I would have done if I was in his shoes,” Mashrafe told the media Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Mashrafe however, thinks the one-match suspension is a justified one as the spirit of the game was brought into question by Shakib, who argued with umpire Tanvir Ahmed after he turned down Thisara Perera’s appeal for a caught-behind decision of Super Stars captain Mushfiqur Rahim.

“There is a rule with the umpire. You cannot say anything to the umpire in the field. This a simple rule. If anyone breaks it, he should be prepared for any kind of punishment. In the last match, Al Amin [Hossain] and [Mohammad] Shahid were also fined. So, the less you do it (argue with umpire), the better,” said Mashrafe.

“Every thing has particular sets of rules. If anyone breaks it, no matter how big a cricketer he is, he must face the consequences. The same happened with Shakib. It (ban) is unfortunate for Shakib and his team. Maybe he was unable to control his emotions and excitement. People learn from mistakes. Hopefully he will not repeat his mistakes in the future,” he added.

In Shakib’s absence, the Riders conceded a thumping nine-wicket loss against the Victorians and the maverick southpaw’s importance to the Rangpur side was not lost on Mashrafe.

“Whichever team does not have Shakib available will be under pressure. His absence brings relief to the opposition. Batting, bowling and fielding; he is the best in all three departments,” said the “Narail Express”.

Shakib will return to the side for their upcoming clash against Chittagong Vikings this Tuesday at Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. 

Comilla Victorians get another easy victory of 9 wickets against the Rangpur Riders  in the 11th match here at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital.

Marlon Samuels played a very aggressive innings of 42 runs from just 24 balls with fours 8 and one six while chasing down 82 runs and Imrul Kayes contributed 24 runs  from 29 balls to confirm the victory.

All were against the Riders today as the fielders missed couple catches and the bowlers hardly dominated on the opponent batsmen to defend their total.

Earlier, the Rangpur Riders set a small total of 82 runs against the bowling attack of the Victorians. Sri Lankan national team star fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara grabbed 4 wickets to restrain Rangpur Riders at a minimal score of 82 runs after they were sent to bat by the Comilla Victorians in the 11th encounter of the third edition of the Bangladesh Premier League.

Abu Haider Rony also claimed 2 wickets for the Victorians. Comilla Victorians’ innings started with double attack by Kulasekara – both Soumya Sarkar (5 runs off 9 balls, 4×1) and Lendl Simmons (3 runs of 7 balls) lost their wickets in the second over of the match which was the very first over delivered by Kulasekara.

Kulasekara also claimed the wicket of one down batsman Mohammad Mithun who has been doing well for the Rangpur Riders since the commencement of BPL – 3. Mithun was slow in the crease, scored just 28 runs facing 42 balls with 2 shots to cross the rope.

Apart from Mithun, no other batsmen of the Rangpur Riders except tale – ender Saqlain Sajib could touch the two digit mark.

Saqlain Sajib was run out by Mashrafe Bin Mortaza after scoring 11 runs of 8 balls.

SOURCE: CricFrenzy

The Rangpur Riders were without their inspirational captain Shakib Al Hasan who received a one BPL match suspension after breaching the BCB’s code of conduct during the match against Sylhet Super Stars on Thursday. His absence hurt his team badly as the Riders put on a listless performance against the Comilla Victorians. Misbah-ul-Haq, who led the Riders today, lost the toss and was put into bat by Mashrafe Mortaza.

The Sri Lankan Nuwan Kulasekara’s first over, the second of the innings, produced two in two which gave his team a perfect start. Soumya Sarkar’s leading edge went high in the air down to the third-man and Marlon Samuels took the catch. Lendl Simmons went for a drive through the off side only to edge the ball to Imrul at slip. Sunil Narine got Jahurul Islam’s wicket as he holed out at deep mid-wicket.

At the end of 5 overs, the Riders were 18/3 and looking down the barrel. Misbah was unlucky to be given our LBW as the ball from Abu Haider had pitched outside the leg stump. He made 6 off 17 balls looking to stabilize the innings. Al-Amin was removed by Ashar Zaidi LBW for a duck. Thisara Perera became Haider’s second wicket which left his side reeling at 54/6. Mohammad Mithun top scored for 28 off 42 balls and was dismissed in the 17th over becoming Kulasekara’s third wicket. He completed his four-for with the wicket of Sachithra Senanayake. Arafat Sunny was run-out in the same over, the penultimate over of the innings. Saqlain Sajib’s was the last wicket to fall on the last ball of the innings as the Riders finished on a disappointing 82/10.

In reply, the Victorians got off to a steady start before Mahmudul Hasan was dismissed for 11 in the 6th over with the score on 29. Using his feet and looking to take on Arafat Sunny, he managed only a leading edge which went straight into the hands of Misbah at short extra cover. Samuels walked in and looked positive as he hit 2 fours in the 8th over bowled by Sunny. Abu Jayed bowled a wide one outside off stump which Imrul Kayes edged to Simmons at slip however he failed to hold onto it.

Samuels hit 1 six and 4 fours in the same over signaling his intent to finish off the match early. Kayes was again dropped at long-off however it wouldn’t have made any difference to the result. He scored 24* off 29 balls while Samuels’ 42 off just 24 balls ensured a comfortable 9 wicket win for the Victorians with 49 balls to spare. The West Indian smashed 8 fours and 1 six in an entertaining knock. He was surprisingly declared the Man-of-the-Match instead of Kulasekara who seemed to deserve it for his outstanding spell of 4/12.

Brief Scores:

Rangpur Riders – 82/10 in 20 overs (M Mithun 28; N Kulasekara 4/12)

Comilla Victorians – 84/1 in 11.5 overs (M Samuels 42*; A Sunny 1/13)

Man of the Match: Marlon Samuels (Comilla Victorians)

SOURCE: CricTracker

The ghost of last-over defeat has once again haunted Sylhet Super Stars as they suffered their third consecutive defeat in the Bangladesh Premier League by six runs yesterday. Shakib al Hasan produced another vital all-round contribution in the game as Rangpur Riders picked up their third win in four games.

Shakib had earlier stated that the wickets are getting slower by each game and low totals are becoming harder to achieve with the ball skidding and turning viciously. That’s exactly what happened yesterday when the Super Stars came on to bat. 

Wicket-to-wicket bowling without any experiment was enough for Rangpur who tightened the run flow and forced the Sylhet batters to play faulty shots and lose wickets. Shakib took just four balls to strike when he trapped Josh Cobb, for a golden duck, plumb in front with the score on one and later removed the dangerous Dilshan Munaweera in the fourth over. 

Mominul Haque finally looked in good touch but his 23-ball cameo ended with Thisara Perera hitting his front pad in the eighth over. Sylhet had already gathered 52 by that point and what should have been an easy task thereafter was made harder by their random experiment in the batting line-up.

Left-arm spinner Nazmul Apu came in at No 5 and lasted four deliveries before becoming Sachithra Senanayake’s only victim in the match. The wicket handed the momentum to Rangpur who topped all the nervy moments then onwards to eventually win the game.

Ravi Bopara, who bowled exceptionally well earlier (4-0-8-1), did not trouble much either, as Arafat Sunny fooled the English cricketer with his slider and hit him plumb in front to extend the panic in the Sylhet dressing room.

Nasum Ahmed, Nazmul Hasan and Nurul Hasan altogether produced just 21 runs as Sylhet skipper Mushfiqur Rahim found himself batting with No 10 Mohammad Shahid and 14 still needed off 12 balls.  

Darren Sammy, bowling his first over, cleaned up Shahid and left six to defend off the last over with Ajantha Mendis on strike. The Sri Lankan lasted just two more deliveries before mishitting 22-year-old right-arm quickie Abu Jayed at the hands of long-on as Mushfiqur stood marooned on 25 and Rangpur wildly celebrated their second last-over win in the tournament.

The match, however, seemed to be in Sylhet’s bag after they had bowled out Rangpur for a mere 109, courtesy of Shahid’s best T20 figures.  

Riders top-scorer Shakib struggled for his 33 off 37 balls as the southpaw struck just two fours and a six while none apart from Perera (21) and Lendl Simmons (13) made it to double digits.

Bopara used his slow pace to good effect to tie the run-rate as Shahid cashed in on the opportunity to bag four for 12 – but eventually the contributions were not enough to move Sylhet off the mark in the points table. 

World’s leading all-rounder Shakib al Hasan’s magic did the trick for Rangpur Riders as they comprehensively beat Dhaka Dynamites by 69 runs to pick up their second win in three matches in the Bangladesh Premier League yesterday.

Keeping in-form cricketers Misbah ul Haq and Saqlain Sajib out of the playing XI raised quite a few eyebrows but Shakib’s input with both bat and ball sealed Riders’ easy win at the end.

After helping his side to a challenging 176 with an unbeaten 30, Shakib took four for 16 to demolish the Dhaka batting backbone as they were bowled out for 107 with two balls left in their 20 overs.

Rangpur’s strategy was simple - get runs on the scorecard and put the slow bowlers in operation – yet worked wonders. Shakib, who opened the bowling with Sri Lankan off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake from the other end, cleaned up Shamsur Rahman and Nasir Jamshed in the space of three balls in the third over as Dhaka never recovered from the double blow. 

Dhaka’s batting deficiency was exposed as apart from Kumar Sangakkara (29) no one looked formidable at the middle and their hopes diminished as soon as the Lankan maestro was caught at mid-wicket off Arafat Sunny’s bowling. The blow, Sunny’s second, left Dhaka tottering at 53 for four in 11 overs.

Thisara Pepera cashed in on the opportunity after Shakib introduced the pacer in the 12th over. The right-arm seamer dismissed Ryan ten Doeschate in his third ball and further added to Dhaka’s woes by removing Abul Hasan and Yasir Shah in his following overs. 

In between the Pepera assault, Shakib added Nasir Hossain and Farhad Reza to his wickets tally as he finished off his four overs giving away just 16 runs.

Shakib said toss is becoming vital as the tournament progresses. The curators are not getting enough time to prepare the wicket in full so it has started helping the spinners.

“Batting first in the first game is ideal. The wickets are wearing so the ball gets low and tends to spin as the day ends. I believe our team is in good momentum at the moment given everyone is trying their best to do their respective jobs. I hope this will continue in the remaining matches,” said Shakib.

Earlier, Rangpur had all the elements to reach a big total but a late collapse in their batting order almost paved the way back in the game for Dhaka. Soumya Sarkar (18) and Lendl Simmons (51) produced a rapid 38-run start while Mohammad Mithun (34) and Perera (27) also contributed vital runs.

From 122 for 2 in the 14th over, Rangpur were reduced to 150 for six before the last two overs with Darren Sammy, Thisara and Al-Amin back in the hut. Batting at No 6, Shakib struck three boundaries in the last two overs to propel the score. 

Shakib Al Hasan’s all-round show helped Rangpur Riders get the better of the Dhaka Dynamites in the seventh match of the Bangladesh Premier League at Mirpur on Wednesday. Rangpur Riders put up 176/6 in their 20 overs before bowling out Dhaka Dynamties for 107 to coast to a comfortable 69-run victory.

Choosing to bat first, Rangpur Riders started at a brisk pace. LMP Simmons and Soumya Sarkar put up 38 runs for the opening wicket in 4.3 overs before the latter was dismissed for 18 by Mustafizur Rahman.  Simmons carried on, making 51 runs off just 39 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes. He combined with Mohammad Mithun to put up a 56-run partnership for the second wicket in just 6.1 overs. Mithun made 34 off 22 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes before he was dismissed leg before to Abul Hasan. Shakib provided the final flourish as he played a crucial cameo of 15-ball 24 not out as Riders finished with 176/6.

Dynamites had a poor start to the chase, losing both the openers Nasir Jamshed (11) and Shamsur Rahman (2) to Shakib. Skipper Kumar Sangakkara kept the chase on with a knock of 29 but after his dismissal, the innings folded up rather quickly for 107. None of the middle-order batsmen could fight it out. Shakib returned with figures of 4/16 to help Riders win the match by 69 runs.

Brief scores: Rangpur Riders 176/6 (LMP Simmons 51, Mohammad Mithun 34) beats Dhaka Dynamites 107 (Kumar Sangakkara 29, Shakib Al Hasan 4/16) by 69 runs.

Rangpur Riders continued their good form by registering their third win of the 2015 BPL. Sylhet Super Stars continued their losing streak and have been left with plenty to ponder. Shakib won yet another toss and decided to bat first and put on only 109 tough it proved enough as the Super Stars put in a poor batting performance along with some tactical blunders in the run chase and lost the match by 6 runs.

Soumya Sarkar was dismissed in the 3rd over with the score on 17. He nicked one off Mohammad Shahid to skipper Rahim behind the wicket. Simmons, looking good having hit 2 fours in a knock of 13, was run out attempting a quick single. He was at the non-striker’s end and called Shakib for a run when the left-hander guided one to short third man. Shakib kept playing positively and also rotating the strike. Wickets to Mohammad Mithun and Jahurul Islam pegged back the Riders, however, Perera came in and batted cautiously before dispatching Ajantha Mendis for 2 consecutive sixes in the 13th over before being cleaned up by Ravi Bopara off a cleverly bowled slower one; the Sri Lankan scored 21 off 20 balls. Wickets of Sammy and Senanayake were followed by that of Shakib for a well made 33 off 37 balls including 2 fours and 1 six. Shahid was on a hat-trick as Arafat Sunny was dismissed off the next delivery after Shakib’s wicket. Riders managed only 109/9 and needed a big bowling effort.

Munaweera hit the second ball of the innings for 4 however Shakib removed Englishman Josh Cobb for a golden duck on the 4th ball giving his team a perfect start. The Sri Lankan continued batting aggressively and hit Senanayake for a six and a four in the 3rd over. Mominul Haque also started positively and hit 3 fours in the space of 3 overs. Shakib struck again removing Munaweera for 17 off 11 when he holed out at long off. Haque smashed Shakib for 3 fours in the 6th over and was looking in ominous touch. He was unlucky to be given out LBW off Perera as the umpire missed the inside edge. His 29 off 23 put his team in a good position to overhaul the target however the others failed to bat sensibly and crumbled under pressure. Nazmul Islam was caught and bowled by Senanayake and Arafat Sunny had Bopara LBW.

Abu Jayed ended Nasum Ahmed’s vigil while Shakib returned to pick up his 3rd wicket in the form of Nazmul Milon by getting through his defence. Skipper Rahim was well set however running out of partners as Nurul Hasan was run out and Shahid bowled by Sammy in the penultimate over. Ajanta Mendis took a couple of runs off the 5th ball of this over and should have defended the last ball to ensure strike for Rahim at the start of the last over. The Sylhet skipper made a huge blunder by taking a single off this delivery which kept Mendis on strike with 7 needed. He survived the first ball, however, tried to go for a big hit and holed out at long on where Senanayake took a good catch. Rahim remained on 25* off 34 balls and will surely regret a missed opportunity to register his teams’ first win. Shakib deservedly won his 2nd man-of-the-match award in a row.

Brief Scores:

Rangpur Riders: 109/9 (Shakib 33; M Shahid 4/12)

Sylhet Super Stars: 103 (M Haque 29; Shakib 3/31)

Man of the Match: Shakib Al Hasan

SOURCE: CricTracker

Jannatul Naym Pieal

Rangpur Riders were able to notch a victory in the first match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season three by two wickets in a nerve wracking thriller against Chittagong Vikings despite Shakib Al Hasan’s failure both in batting and bowling.

But the scenerio was different in their next game against Barisal Bulls. The iconic all rounder found his form – at least with the ball – if not with the bat, but still his side suffered a 13-run defeat. Shakib blamed their slog overs bowling and middle overs batting for the defeats.

He said, “We leaked too much runs in the slog overs. Plus our top order couldn’t bat as per expectation. And at a time in the middle overs, our run rate became very down – we picked only 20 runs in 5 overs. As a result we were in pressure later on.

However, Rangpur made a good start in the match with picking four of Barisal wickets for just 14 runs. Still Barisal in the end could make a competitive total, surpassing the 150-run mark. Rather than taking the responsibility on their own shoulder, Shakib showered his opponents with praise for being able to come back in the match.

“I don’t think any of our players became relaxed because of our initial success. We were always in the game and tried hard throughout. But it was mainly their achievement that they were able to reconstruct their innings after an early collapse,” said the number one all-rounder.

SOURCE: bdcricteam