Russell downs Barishal to give Dhaka first win in BPL
Caribbean hard-hitter Andre Russell
struck a marauding 15 ball-31 not out, following up his two-wicket haul as
Minister Group Dhaka recovered from a shaky start to beat Fortune Barishal by
four wickets in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) today at Sher-e-Bangla
National Cricket Stadium.
This was Dhaka’s first
victory after losing the first two matches to Khulna Tigers and Chattogram
Challengers. For Barishal, it was their first defeat after beating Chattogram
Challengers by four wickets in the first match.
Put into bat first, Shakib Al
Hasan-led Fortune Barishal put up 129-8 and Dhaka raced to the victory with
130-6 in 17.3 overs.
Dhaka had to start again without
Mashrafe Bin Mortaza despite the pacer was supposed to play the match after
recovering from his back pain.
Chasing the paltry target, Dhaka
were reduced to 10-4 with Barishal’s fast bowlers
Shafiqul Islam (2=20) and Alzzari Joseph (2-34) slicing the top order in a game
of pace bowling.
Shafiqul bowled Tamim Iqbal, who
struck consecutive two half-centuries in the first two matches, for a duck and
followed it up with the wicket of Mohammad Shahzad for 5.
Joseph meanwhile took the scalp of
Naim Sheikh (4) and Jahrul Islam for duck to leave Dhaka in a state of
embarrassment.
Skipper Mahmudullah Riyad and
Shuvagata Hom however brought the side back into the contention with 69-run
partnership for the fifth wicket.
The partnership was broken when
Dwayne Bravo had Hom caught by Taijul Islam for 29.
The asking run rate also climbed up
at this juncture, making Barishal a favourite to win the game.
But Russell showed his power-hitting
capability to dent Barishal’s chance. He struck three fours and
two sixes in his 15 ball-31 not out to sail the side home despite Riyad was out
for a run-a-ball-47.
Riyad innings was studded by three
fours and one six.
Barishal included Chris Gayle in the
first XI after he returned negative in Covid-19 test. But he was not sent to
open the innings, rather Gayle played at No. 5 position from where he
top-scored the side with 36 off 30 with three fours and two sixes.
Dwayne Bravo made 33 off 26, hitting
three fours and one six. He and Gayle was the reason that Barishal could propel
them past 100 runs. Skipper Shakib Al Hasan was the other notable scorer with
23.
Andre Russell and Isuru Udana took
two wickets apiece.