Ctg Vikings first team to make exit

Anik, Mustafiz share six wickets for Rajshahi

Chittagong Vikings became the first team to confirm their exit from the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) following their 33-run defeat to Rajshahi Kings yesterday at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. Given they were playing their home venue, it was expected they would revive their campaign after a frustrating start. However they could win just one match in four in Chittagong phase to dig their own grave.

Chittagong had five points in 10 matches that left them in the bottom place while Rajshahi Kings earned eight in the same number of matches and went into fifth position of the points table. Yet Rajshahi’s journey to top-four spot is relying on many ifs and buts.

Back into the game, the match turned out to be low scoring affair unlike the other matches in this phase as Rajshahi defended their 157 for six, by shooting Chittagong Vikings out for 124 in 19.2 overs.

Young left arm medium fast bowler Qazi Anik was to the fore in delivering the victory, claiming a figure of 3.2-0-17-4, that gave some hopes of reviving the Rajshahi’s campaign. His four wickets included the crucial scalps of Stiaan Van Zyl and Anamul Haque Bijoy, both of whom got the start to be looked to carry the side home.  Van Zyl was the top scorer of the side with 27 while Bijoy made 23.

Anik’s four-for was complemented by Mustafizur Rahman’s two for 18, a performance that would give the cutter master some respite following his poor show in the first two matches in which he leaked runs in abundance.

Anik’s controlled bowling, mixing with cunning slower and short balls with good pace did the tricks for him. Mustafizur on the other hand got the wicket to his likings as it was gripping the ball, meaning his cutters worked well here to keep the batsmen tame.

Before the show of Anik and Mustafizur, it was the heroics of captain Darren Sammy whose 25 ball-40, studded with two fours and three sixes was instrumental in propelling Rajshahi past 150, that looked unlikely at one phase. As they chose to bat first, Rajshahi batsmen couldn’t pace the innings as it was expected. Luke Reece indeed stemmed the run flow, striking at regular intervals and keeping Rajshahi away from making a good partnership.

Sammy however kept his natural flamboyance in check in a bid to get a good partnership with James Franklin and his patience paid the rich dividends as the partnership shared 69 runs. Sammy went onslaught towards the end to pace the innings but still the score looked not winning-total until Anik and Mustafizur drove the match towards their favour.

Sammy’s knock was complemented by Franklin’s run-a-ball-30. Reece snapped up  three for 33 for Chittagong Vikings.

Ctg Vikings first team to make exit

Anik, Mustafiz share six wickets for Rajshahi

Chittagong Vikings became the first team to confirm their exit from the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) following their 33-run defeat to Rajshahi Kings yesterday at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. Given they were playing their home venue, it was expected they would revive their campaign after a frustrating start. However they could win just one match in four in Chittagong phase to dig their own grave. Chittagong had five points in 10 matches that left them in the bottom place while Rajshahi Kings earned eight in the same number of matches and went into fifth position of the points table. Yet Rajshahis journey to top-four spot is relying on many ifs and buts. Back into the game, the match turned out to be low scoring affair unlike the other matches in this phase as Rajshahi defended their 157 for six, by shooting Chittagong Vikings out for 124 in 19.2 overs. Young left arm medium fast bowler Qazi Anik was to the fore in delivering the victory, claiming a figure of 3.2-0-17-4, that gave some hopes of reviving the Rajshahis campaign. His four wickets included the crucial scalps of Stiaan Van Zyl and Anamul Haque Bijoy, both of whom got the start to be looked to carry the side home. Van Zyl was the top scorer of the side with 27 while Bijoy made 23. Aniks four-for was complemented by Mustafizur Rahmans two for 18, a performance that would give the cutter master some respite following his poor show in the first two matches in which he leaked runs in abundance. Aniks controlled bowling, mixing with cunning slower and short balls with good pace did the tricks for him. Mustafizur on the other hand got the wicket to his likings as it was gripping the ball, meaning his cutters worked well here to keep the batsmen tame. Before the show of Anik and Mustafizur, it was the heroics of captain Darren Sammy whose 25 ball-40, studded with two fours and three sixes was instrumental in propelling Rajshahi past 150, that looked unlikely at one phase. As they chose to bat first, Rajshahi batsmen couldnt pace the innings as it was expected. Luke Reece indeed stemmed the run flow, striking at regular intervals and keeping Rajshahi away from making a good partnership. Sammy however kept his natural flamboyance in check in a bid to get a good partnership with James Franklin and his patience paid the rich dividends as the partnership shared 69 runs. Sammy went onslaught towards the end to pace the innings but still the score looked not winning-total until Anik and Mustafizur drove the match towards their favour. Sammys knock was complemented by Franklins run-a-ball-30. Reece snapped up three for 33 for Chittagong Vikings.