Sports Reporter :
Khulna Tigers recorded an easy 37-run win over Chittagong Kings in their first match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital’s Mirpur on Tuesday.
Sent into bat first, Khulna Tigers piled up a massive total of 203 for the loss of four wickets in the stipulated 20 overs and then all out Chittagong Kings for 166 off 18.5 overs.
Khulna Tigers had a fine start with two openers Naim Sheikh and William Bosisto put on together 37 runs in the opening stand before Naim Sheikh was caught by Usman Khan off Aliss Islam.
Naim Sheikh made 26 from 17 balls featuring three sixes and one four.
Then, William Bosisto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored together 51 runs for the second wicket partnership before Miraz was caught at the mid-on by Thomas O’ Connell off Khaled Ahmed when Khulna’s score was 88 for the loss of two wickets.
Miraz hit a run-a-ball 18 with one four and one six.
After Miraz’s dismissal, Ibrahim Zadran (6) was caught behind by Mohammad Mithun off Khaled Ahmed when Khulna’s total was 106 for the loss of three wickets.
Afif Hossain (8) was caught at the third man by Shoriful Islam off Aliss Islam when Khulna’s score was 117 for the loss of four wickets.
Later, William Bosisto and Mahidul Islam salvaged their team from danger contributing together 86 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket partnership before Khulna’s innings came to an end.
William Bosisto remained unbeaten with 75 runs. His 50-ball innings was studded with eight fours and three sixes.
Wicketkeeper-batter Mahidul Islam remained unbeaten with 59 runs. He hit six sixes and one four in his 22-ball innings. Mahidul Islam was adjudged the Man of the Match for his eye-catching performance. It was the fastest fifty in BPL Cricket so far.
Aliss Islam and Khaled Ahmed bagged two wickets each instead of 17 runs and 45 runs.
Chittagong Kings faced a disaster as they lost their eight wickets for 75 runs.
Then, Shamim Hossain and Khaled Ahmed fought back adding together 77 runs for the ninth wicket partnership before Shamim Hossain was caught at the deep cover by Mohammad Nawaz off Aliss Islam when Chittagong’s total was 152 for the loss of nine wickets.
Shamim Hossain hammered a hurricane 78. His 38-ball knock was belted with five sixes and seven fours.
Khaled Ahmed (14) was caught & bowled by Abu Haider when Chittagong’s innings came to an end.
Abu Haider captured four wickets in the space of 44 runs while Mohammad Nawaz bagged a pair of wickets at the cost of 13 runs.
Oshane Thomas, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud and Nasum Ahmed took one wicket each for 18, 26, 30 and 35 runs respectively.
