Bangladesh Premier League
Dhaka face Comilla for title today
Sports Reporter, Dhaka
Dhaka Dynamites want to regain the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) title, as they take on Comilla Victorians in the final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today. The match will start at 7pm. Coming to the tournament as red-hot favourites, with four world class all-rounders in Shakib Al Hasan, Keiron Pollard, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, Dhaka justified the tag Dynamites by winning four matches in the first five outings. But thereafter they slipped and lost five matches in six outings, making the play-off spot tougher for them. They somehow managed a victory in their last match to seal a spot among the last four as the last team.
Dhaka Dynamites came up with full glory and power-packed cricket that their fans expected from them in the eliminator and qualifier-2 game against Chittagong Vikings and defending champions Rangpur Riders to seal a spot in the final.
Three victories on the trot and their playing style rekindled hopes of their fans of a massive turnaround in the final, and they are hoping for a title that eluded them in the last season after a Chris Gayle-storm. Gayle simply took away the match from Dhaka, smashing a record-breaking 69-ball 146 not out.
While Dhakas journey towards the final was a bumpy one, it was a straightaway scenario for Comilla. They were the most consistent team in the tournament and ended the group phase in the first spot. They comprehensively beat Rangpur by eight wickets to seal the spot in final in the first attempt.
Right from the start of the tournament, we dreamt to play the final. But more importantly, we were consistent throughout the tournament. That gave us the confidence, said Comilla captain Imrul Kayes. Under a new franchisee, Dhaka would give a shot for their second BPL title. They have already three titles under two franchisees, winning the trophy in 2012, 2013 as Dhaka Gladiators and 2016 as Dhaka Dynamites.
Comilla, on the other hand, won the trophy in 2016 and would make a bid for their second title. We have to be calm. We know Dhaka are a strong team with four world class all-rounders. But if we play to our potential, anything can happen, Kayes added.
While Dhaka are bolstered by the power-packed all-rounders, Comilla have no lack of firepower in the team, with Evin Lewis being capable of tearing through any bowling on his day. Lower in the order, they got the likes of Thisara Perera and Shahid Afridi who also have the reputation of being power al-rounders.
The match will be competitive, said Dhaka pacer Rubel Hossain, whose searing spell was key in Dhakas comprehensive five-wicket victory against Rangpur Riders in the qualifier-2 game.
They have a long batting line-up and they are bolstered by some good all-rounders like us. It will be a fascinating clash. Nevertheless, we know what we are capable of. On our day, we can beat any team. We hope for the best, Rubel remarked. According to Rubel, their slip-up in the middle of the tournament was a reality check for them.
The hiccup was an eye-opener. We were mentally down but the good thing is that we could make a strong comeback. We believe we have the ability to win four matches in a row. We have already won three matches after that hiccup and now there is another game. We are ready for the battle, he said.
