BPL 2017
Dhaka hand Khulna 65-run defeat
Sports Reporter
Defending champions Dhaka Dynamites made a stellar comeback in Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) by showing a ruthless performance that steered them to a thumping 65-run victory over Khulna Titans yesterday at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.
The ruthlessness that won them the title in the previous edition was missed in their crushing nine-wicket defeat to Sylhet Sixers in the opening game, forcing the think-tank to some readjustment to the squad.
They came up with a new-looked batting order, promoting Kumar Sangakkara to the opening position instead of Mehedi Maruf and Cameron Delport to the top of the order, a move that paid rich dividends.
The Dynamites compiled a gigantic 202 for seven, still a smaller score than anticipation given they were 154 in 13 overs. However the bowlers made regular inroads to finally make it a big margin victory, by wrapping Khulna side up for 137 in 18.1 overs.
West Indies recruit Evin Lewis and South African Cameron Delport was responsible in inflicting this huge agony to the Khulna bowlers who were on the receiving end when the duo were in charge. They combined, scored 116 runs off just 54 balls to raise the prospect of a record total, only to be denied by the middle orders failure to improvise the shot towards the end.
Kumar Sangakkaras 12-ball 20 set the thing up front, which was shrewdly capitalised by Delport and Lewis. Famous for his big hitting ability, Lewis lived up to his reputation by smashing 66 off 40, designed by seven fours and three sixes. Delport was more attacking than Lewis and caused a near mental breakdown for the Khulna bowlers with five towering sixes, three of which landed into the gallery. Before being dismissed, Delport smacked 31-ball 64, sending the ball across the rope for four times in addition of his five sixes.
The carnage left Khulna bowlers in danger of conceding a record total as the run rate soared to 13 at the end of the 12 overs. As things looked ominous, much to the relief of Khulna, Shafiul Islam dismissed Evin Lewis, bringing an end to the dangerous partnership. Still a score close to 230 was on the cards but Abu Jayed Rahi removed Delport with an off-cutter in the immediate next over. His dismissal effectively stemmed the run flow as Khulna hit back in the game with a flurry of wickets.
However, Sunil Narine, who was included in the team for the first time, hit some lusty blow towards the end to ensure Dhaka would go past 200. But what was disappointing for Dhaka was that they scored just 48 runs in the last seven overs.
Still, it was huge to ace a chase. Khulna was left with no choice but to go for kill from the beginning. But their execution was poor, and Dhaka bowlers came up with all guns blazing, backed up by gigantic total. They kept up the pressure by striking at a regular interval.
Khulnas West Indies recruit Chadwick Walton however was exceptional in terms of clearing the boundary more often but he too couldnt survive for long as Shakib Al Hasan caught him behind the wicket to end his 13 ball-30 runs knock.
Fast bowlers Abu Haider Rony and spinners Sunil Narine and Shakib Al Hasan then ripped through the middle order and virtually ruined Khulnas hope even before they completed 10 overs of the chase. At that time, Khulna were 80 for six and the intention was only to reduce the margin as much as they could. Abu Haider was the pick of the bowler, returning figures of three for 13. Shakib, Sunil Narine and Khaled Ahmed claimed two wickets apiece.
