The eighth edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) got underway with Shakib Al Hasan’s Fortune Barishal beating Mehedi Miraz’s Chattogram Challengers by four wickets at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday.
The first match of the BPL was a low-scoring affair although shot-selection
from some of the batters left much to be desired. When Kennar Lewis hit the very first ball of the innings from Nayeem Hasan for six, it appeared a storm could be imminent but it was quickly stifled by the two spinners Nayeem and Shakib.
Miraz, Shakib at opposite end of spectrum
Shakib’s economical spell, producing just 9 runs in four overs, was crucial but it was his younger counterpart Miraz, who turned the game on its head.
“We were 25 runs short in my opinion. It was spinning a touch, but our bowlers kept it a bit short. Yes, I got four wickets, but would have been happy if we would have won the match,” Miraz, who scalped four for just 16 runs to bag the player of the match award, said at the post-match presentation.
Shakib, who now has 399 wickets in T20s, was happy with the outing despite not turning up with the bat. “I thought we bowled brilliantly, but we could’ve been a little better. Very happy with the way we played this game, but there are areas we can improve on. We needed some momentum to get going in the tournament,” the Barishal skipper said.
Covid cases still not a crisis
Barishal reported three Covid cases in their ranks with wicket-keeper batter Nurul Hasan Sohan testing positive on 17th January while batting consultant Nazmul Abedeen Fahim and batter Munim Shahriar turning positive the next day. Sohan tested negative yesterday and another such test result today will see him return to squad. According to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) sources, the tournament should go on without any hitch as per their protocols.
Russell’s bizarre run-out
A Tamim Iqbal fifty, Mohammad Shahzad’s speedy 42 at the top and skipper Mahmudullah Riyad’s 20-ball 39 saw Minister Group Dhaka pile on 183 for 6 against Khulna Tigers in BPL’s night match but nothing could possibly capture imagination like the run-out Rony Talukdar effected in the 15th over of Dhaka innings.
Andre Russell looked ominous with a powerful six in the previous delivery but dabbed one down to short third-man area for a single. Rony came running in with Mahmudullah running at the danger end and his throw
found its mark, hitting the stumps at the striker’s end. The throw, coming in at an angle, then ricocheted from the stumps at the striker’s end and went on to hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end, with Russell not even aware of what was happening, as evidenced by his lack of instinct to place his bat. The decision was referred to third umpire and although Mahmudullah was safe, Russell departed to the most bizarre run out which was in fact also a direct hit.
Rony later went on to score match-highest 61 as Khulna chased down the target with five wickets in hand and an over to spare. There were quite a few other contributions in the innings as the second match of the opening day seemed like was played on a different surface altogether than the first one.
